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V o • • • * **o 



MANUAL OF REVIVALS. 



PRACTICAL HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS 

FROM 

HISTORIES OF REVIVALS AND BIOGRAPHIES 
OF REVIVALISTS, 



THEMES FOR THE USE OF PASTORS AND MISSION- 
ARIES BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER 
SPECIAL SERVICES, 



INCLUDING THE TEXTS, SUBJECTS, AND OUTLINES OF THE 

SERMONS OF MANY DISTINGUISHED EVANGELISTS, 

. / 

Rev. G. W. HERVEY, M.A., 

AUTHOR OF " A SYSTEM OF CHRISTIAN RHETORIC," ETC. 




NEW YORK : 

FUNK & WAGNALLS, Publishers, 

io and 12 Dey Street. 







Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, 

By FUNK & WAGNALLS, 

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 



PREFACE. 



In this volume the writer has attempted to accom- 
plish two new and important objects. One is to em- 
body the many practical suggestions which have oc- 
curred to him in the study of the literature of revivals. 
The other object is to give the reader an extensive 
variety of revival themes, outlines, and texts, and so 
to illustrate, by the example of the most successful 
evangelists, the peculiar excellences of the best revival 
sermons. 

In the first part the writer has tried to avoid prej- 
udice and onesidedness. Instructive as the life of one 
man may be, yet the blended light of many men's 
observation and experience is the clearest and safest, 
the most far-shining, and the fullest of warmth and 
inspiration. 

The more strictly homiletical part is also intended 
to fill a vacancy. We possess many books of texts, 
themes, and sketches, some of which are so large as 
to be called cyclopaedias. These may be of more or 
less service by way of suggestion and reminder to 
such pastors as think for themselves ; but not one of 
these collections was made with special reference to 
the exigencies of pastors and evangelists in times of 
revival. It is for the purpose of meeting these de- 
mands (often as unexpected as they are exacting) that 



IV PREFA CE. 

these examples have been prepared for the press. 
The chief object of the writer is to suggest proper texts 
and themes. Among them will be found the texts of 
Wesley, Whitefield, Edwards, Griffin, Knapp, Spur- 
geon, Moody, and many other revivalists of eminence 
and great success. These texts have been gathered 
not only from published sermons, but, in some cases, 
from volumes of letters and journals. In this way, and 
now for the first time, have been made out tolerably 
complete lists of the revival texts of Wesley, White- 
field, and Brainerd. Having for many years been an 
enthusiastic student of all sorts of homiletical litera- 
ture, the writer has been able to draw many of his 
materials from sources various and curious, as well as 
remote and obscure. In order to make the circle of 
subjects more nearly complete, he has, now and then, 
consulted his commonplace-book of texts and sub- 
jects — a book enriched by the fruit of many years of 
study. Only as a last resort has he presumed to add 
texts, themes, and sketches from his own store of re- 
vival sermons. 

Our field of view, it will be observed, is not confined 
to revivals in progress. The writer has included such 
texts and subjects as may serve to prepare the way 
for, and profitably follow, seasons of special service. 
The brilliance of noonday wisdom should not be 
allowed to blind us to the value of morning and even- 
ing wisdom. 

G. W. H. 



CONTENTS 



PACE 

PREFACE iii 

INTRODUCTION. 

The readers for whom this volume is not intended — Should a church enjoy a re- 
vival every year? — Can evangelists be superseded? — Examples of churches 
that hold evangelistic services from year to year — Mode of conducting such 
meetings as a part of regular church work — Objections answered — Sermons 
without application or pointedness — Revivals in summer — City life most favor- 
able to annual revivals — The true ends of preaching — The unconverted major- 
ities in Congregational churches— Certain classes need retirement — Young 
Thomas Arnold — Work as an antidote to doubts — The question of borrowing 
— The light of history — Partial inductions— The experience of the evangelists 
of to-day — Facts as incitements — The example of Rev. W. C. Burns — Evan- 
gelism and foreign missions xi 



PART I. 
SUGGESTIONS FROM THE RECORDS OF REVIVALISM. 

CHAPTER I. 

WORKING AND WAITING FOR A REVIVAL. 

Preparation by prayer and beneficence— Relation of missions to revivals— Our 
Sunday-schools need reconstruction — Unanimity not to be expected at the out- 
set — The ideal Pentecost — Dr. Duff's hint — The time to wait — The call of 
Providence — The alternations of judgment and mercy P 

CHAPTER II. 

PRAYER IN ITS RELATION TO AWAKENINGS. 

Importance of secret prayer — Prayer-meetings preparing work for Livingstone, 
Whitefield, Edwards, and others — Quiet beginnings — Too much talk about re- 
vivals — Sheardown on dependence on God alone — Value of news concerning 
works of grace — Providence and the Spirit — Furthersome accidents — Specific 
intercession , 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER III. 

PAGE 

CHOICE OF SUBJECTS AND TEXTS FOR REVIVAL SERMONS. 

General and special themes — The chief end of a true revival — Preaching on ele- 
vating subjects — Combining Law and Gospel — Testimony of Dr. Tholuck — 
Texts which have been honored by the Spirit — Danger of exclusive attention 
to the Holy Ghost — A list of common topics — Dr. Kirk's opinion — Doctrine 
and practice disconnected — Preaching to the brotherhood — Professed readiness 
may be unreadiness — Future punishment — To be taught Scripturally and in 
love 18 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE STYLE MOST SUITABLE FOR REVIVAL PREACHING. 

The qualities of this style — Effects of style — Clearness the first requisite — Wesley, 
Nettleton, Finney, and Moody — Example of brevity from Arnot — The excess- 
ive use of climaxes — Sermons hastily prepared — The word " professor " 29 

CHAPTER V. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF TIMING TEXTS AND SUBJECTS. 

Need of discrimination — General and special subjects — Example from Nettleton of 
the well-timed and the ill-timed — Whitefield's practice in varying parts of his 
plans — Great sermons often less effective than small ones — Danger of being too 
nice 36 

CHAPTER VI. 

CAN THERE BE TOO MUCH PREACHING IN A REVIVAL? 

The question answered — May be too much of some kinds — May be out of propor- 
tion to other means of grace — Too much in one strain — Not to make ourselves 
the standards — Frequency of sermons in the revival at East Hampton — Does 
emotional preaching create a disrelish for the Bible? — Coaxing and auctioneer- 
ing — The Salvation Army 40 

CHAPTER VII. 

SERVICES FOR READINGS AND EXPOSITIONS. 

When and where useful — What portions of Scripture most appropriate — Should 
have a practical aim — Revivals resulting from readings — The practice of 
Moody, Morehouse, Whittle, and Needham — Readings in the place of argu- 
ments — Whittle's advice — Avoid one-sidedness 47 



CONTENTS. vi l 

CHAPTER VIII. 

PAGE 

REVIVAL HYMNS AND SINGING. 

The minstrel accompanied the Prophet — The rage for novelty — Sacred songs very 
furthersome — Hymns as means of grace — Testimony of Nettleton and Parker 
— The abuse of church music — The necessity of choiceness — Advice of Finney 
and Fish — An occasional substitute for singing recommended 52 

CHAPTER IX. 

TEMPERANCE WORK IN REVIVALS. 

Diversity of opinions about temperance reforms — The Gospel affords a common 
ground for co-operation — The success of Mr. Moody and others in Christianiz- 
ing drunkards — Specialists in temperance work not always in sympathy with 
evangelistic laborers — Christ the Great Physician of diseased souls 57 

CHAPTER X. 

THE EVANGELIST IN HIS RELATIONS TO THE PRAYER CURE. 

The honesty of the leaders of this movement — Reasons for the revival of these 
primitive gifts — Romanism, Spiritualism, and Materialism seem to demand its 
restoration to the churches — Has the age of miracles passed away? — As a 
question of probability and of testimony — The use of oil in connection with 
prayer — The laying on of hands — The primitive elder — A caution given — 
These gifts not bestowed upon all — A churchly rite — Presumption and fanati- 
cism to be guarded against — The Rev. Dr. Gordon's judicious advice — Bengel's 
discriminating dictum — Physicians and medicine not to be despised — The ex- 
ample of St. Luke, the beloved physician, recommended 62 

CHAPTER XI. 

AWAKENINGS AMONG CHILDREN AND IN SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 

Caution necessary — The proselyting spirit — Blind sympathy and unconscious imi- 
tation — Revivalistic formalism and drill — Exceptional cases among the young 
— Some children are nearer heaven than we think — Parental fondness mis- 
judges somef'mes — Testimony of John Todd — Keeping lambs out of the fold — 
The dream of Myconius — Reaping a harvest from Sunday-school concerts and 
teachers' prayer-meetings 72 

CHAPTER XII. 

EXPEDIENTS FOR CALLING OUT INQUIRERS. 

Fixed ideas and uniform measures unwise — Modes of declaring a resolution or of 
asking counsel — Advantages of the anxious-seat — Opinions of Jacob Knapp 
and Orson Parker — Invitations to the anxious should be well-timed — A script- 
ural illustration : Elijah and the prophets of Baal — Importance of knowing the 
spiritual mood of the persons invited 78 



VI 11 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

PAGE 

INQUIRY MEETINGS CONSIDERED. 

Objections to seats for inquirers : making a virtue of a public demonstration — No 
Scripture authority for such seats — Not the mercy-seat — The timid not reached 
— Time and place of the inquiry meeting— Practice of Edwards, Buell, and 
Humphrey — Instruction to inquirers — Strictures on certain kinds of advice — 
Moody's method of conducting these meetings 84 

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE AGENCY OF TRACTS AND LETTERS IN REVIVALS. 

Evidence on behalf of tracts — Parker, Murphy, and Fish — Correspondence blessed 
in Scotland — The writing of Christian letters demands prudence — The interest 
which invests written words and sentences — Letters may be written when the 
voice is reduced to silence — St. Paul in prison 91 

CHAPTER XV. 

THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTURBERS AND RIOTERS. 

The stupidity of mobs — The tact and address of Wesley, Whitefield, Rowland Hill, 
and others — The text and its unforeseen application — May forcible means be 
employed ? — In every true work of grace heavenly wisdom is given to all such 
as publicly engage in it — Paroxysms, faintings, and prostrations — The opinions 
of Wesley, Erskine, and others concerning these seizures 95 

CHAPTER XVI. 

THE INTRUSIONS OF THE FEEBLE-MINDED AND THE INSANE. 

What is to be done : resist beginnings — The friends of the feeble-minded may be 
consulted beforehand — Duty of sextons and ushers — Singing or praying the 
insane into silence — Advantage taken of the fact that the praying devil is 
scarce — Order restored by a pleasant remark 100 

CHAPTER XVII. 

SOME OF THE EVILS INCIDENT TO TRUE REVIVALS. 

Fanaticism — False hopes — Spiritual pride — Want of charity — Exaggeration — Self- 
confidence — Neglect of the ordinary means of grace — Let the dead bury their 
dead — Numerical success — Novices — False tests of piety — Party spirit — Vain- 
glory — Resting on means — Changes of feeling — Perpetual ingathering — Ex- 
amples in England, Scotland, and America — Spiritual discernment of Elisha.. 104 



CONTENTS. IX 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

PAGE 

FEEDING THE LAMBS OF THE FLOCK. 

This duty sometimes neglected — Themes useful for close of special services — Mere 
intellectual improvement of secondary importance — Charles Simeon's testi- 
mony—The prejudices of young converts — The pastor's relation to meetings 
of young people — Juvenile influence in ecclesiastical affairs 113 

CHAPTER XIX. 

SHALL WE JOIN THE REAPERS OR NOT? 

Taking counsel of our fears — First-rate pulpit orators not absolutely necessary in 
this kind of service — The example of Wesley, Edwards, and others — Extem- 
poraneous sermons not indispensable — Example of Davies, Lyman Beecher, 
and others — Natural ardor has its drawbacks — Evangelistic success not limited 
to young preachers — Youth not always a disadvantage — Waiting for calls and 
indications — A general interest in a church or community not to be expected at 
the outset — Times of declension and persecution should not discourage pastors 
and evangelists — A parable 117 

CHAPTER XX. 

WAITING FOR POWER FROM ON HIGH. 

Scripture view of the subject — How this power was manifested — Ministerial suc- 
cess does not depend wholly on Christian experience — Preaching the true 
Gospel of prime importance — Retreats and ten-day prayer-meetings — St. Paul's 
weakness in its relation to divine power „ . 126 

CHAPTER XXI. 
THE TEMPTATIONS TO WHICH EVANGELISTS ARE EXPOSED. 

These temptations enumerated — Safeguards and encouragements — Example of 
Elijah and Jeremiah — The influence of party spirit — False and true revivals — 
Historic illustrations — Need of discernment and discrimination — The Lord 
limits and overrules very imperfect means and instruments 131 

CHAPTER XXII. 
THE RELATIONS OF THE PASTOR AND THE EVANGELIST. 

The primitive evangelist — The independence of the evangelist — The shepherd's 
dog — Necessity of fraternal co-operation — Former prejudices disappearing — 
The ox and the ass — Sowing and reaping — Some know their master, others 
only his crib — Pastors who have been blessed with great revivals — The shep- 
herd and the Alpine guide 137 

INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS ON REVIVALS i 43 



X CONTENTS. 

PART II. 

OUTLINES, THEMES, AND TEXTS USED BY EVANGE- 
LISTS OF NOTE. 

PAGE 

FOREWORDS 147 



PAGE 

Wesley 151 

Whitefield 159 

Welch 168 

Woodhouse 170 

Tennent 170 

Tyng 171 

Summerfield 172 

Spencer 172 

Spurgeon 173 

Swan 176 

Payson 179 

Parker 181 

Pentecost 182 

Nettleton 183 

Moody ■ 188 

Maffitt 191 

Little 191 

Knapp, J 193 

Knapp, H. W 205 

Kirk 210 

Krummacher 211 

Hole 212 

Humphrey 213 

Griffin 21a. 



PAGE 

Guinness 219 

Graves 222 

Fletcher 223 

Frelinghuysen 224 

Finney '. 224 

Edwards 227 

Erskine, E .. 228 

Erskine, R 229 

Evans 231 

Davies 232 

Dwight 234 

Dawson 238 

Colman 239 

Clark, D. A 240 

Clark, J. A 243 

Caughey 244 

Castleman 246 

Brainerd 247 

Berridge 249 

Baker 251 

Barnes 251 

Burchard 253 

Andrews 253 



SERMONS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES 255 

From " Sketches of Sermons " 255 

From " National Preacher" 258 

From - Homiletic Monthly " 260 

From " Homiletical Quarterly " 263 

Sermons Preached in New York during 1858 263 

Sermons Preached in Boston in 1877 265 

The Gospel Invitation 265 

Miscellaneous Sketches and Themes 266 

Outlines and Themes for Reforms 281 

Temperance Texts and Themes 283 

Texts and Subjects about Spiritualism 284 

Promiscuous Texts and Themes 304 

Index of Texts 315 

Index of Subjects 325 



INTRODUCTION. 



It is too late in the day to apologize for revivals or to 
attempt to establish their importance. We are indeed 
well aware that there is a certain class of pastors who 
take but a languid interest in this subject. They con- 
sider that their call is not to say to men, " Be ye 
reconciled to God," but rather to say to the sacred 
Scriptures, " Be ye reconciled to science, to reason, to 
intuition, to consciousness. " If in their dreams they 
should have a vision of a valley full of bones, such as 
Ezekiel saw, they probably would not concern them- 
selves with the question, ''Can these bones live?" 
but with the question, " Where among all these 
fossils is the skeleton which forms the missing link be- 
tween man and the baboon?" The more reasonable 
theory is not that of modern evolution, but the old 
rabbinical one of degeneracy. For it really appears as 
if some of us were going forth, like Nebuchadnezzar, 
to browse with cattle. Such men do not know what a 
revival means, and were one to commence among their 
people they would, like the apes in the Oriental fable, 
sit shivering round an expiring fire, which they know 
not how to feed with wood ; or, like the baboons in 
the old Sanscrit fable, that in a cold, stormy night 
mistook a glow-worm for a spark of fire, and threw 
dry sticks upon the poor, flameless creature. It is 



Xll INTRODUCTION. 

every way true that the angel who has power over fire 
comes out from the altar. 

Other pastors hold revivals in real regard, but keep 
the serious examination of the subject in abeyance. 
Jointly and equally with the people of their charge, 
they pray for the conversion of souls, while exhorta- 
tions and invitations to sinners run as golden threads 
through the tissue of many of their sermons ; but still 
they consider themselves called to feed the sheep 
rather than the lambs. They are continually occupied 
with discourses which seem to be demanded to meet 
the present necessities of the brotherhood. So that, 
in their judgment, they could not commence a course 
of revival sermons without the painful conviction that 
many hungry members of their flock would suffer and 
justly complain. Some of these and other pastors 
have come to regard a revival as a kind of Christian 
saturnalia, during which order and propriety are set 
aside for the purpose of reaping all the advantages 
which liberty and familiarity can bestow. They know 
how distressing it is for persons of good taste to ad- 
just themselves to the irregularities which too often 
attend such seasons, and how much more distressing 
to readjust themselves to the manners of a revolution- 
ized church. One of the standing questions for debate 
in a famous theological seminary is : " How are we 
to treat the disinclination of refined culture to sympa- 
thetic awakenings ?" * 

One difficulty to be overcome arises from a growing 
tendency to elaborate fixity in the order of worship, 
and to expect uniformity in the length, if not the 
quality, of sermons. " There is," says the Rev. Calvin 

* " Theory of Preaching," by Rev. Dr. A. Phelps, p. 597. 



INTRODUCTION. XIII 

Colton,* '.U pulpit vice (and the pulpit has its vices) 
which is unfriendly to revival preaching and a great 
obstacle to its success. It owes its origin to the pop- 
ular demand that every religious service should have a 
certain kind of completeness." This is one of the 
things which prevent the preacher from saying what 
he thinks best, or from saying it in the most effective 
manner, and from stopping the moment the best im- 
pression is made. 

But in churches not a few, the highest and steepest 
difficulty is of a social kind. Their meetings are 
largely arranged with a view to attract young people 
and to maintain social amusements. Reunions, festi- 
vals, fairs, sociables, and all that, succeed each other so 
rapidly, and with such momentum, that church life vies 
with the world of fashion in keeping out of the mind 
all thought about our Christian duties and interests. 
A revival crossing the track of such a train of festivi- 
ties would be as unwelcome as a fire that is devour- 
ing a railroad bridge. 

Foremost among those whose theories deserve early 
consideration, are pastors who labor for continual in- 
gatherings from month to month, or every year, with- 
out high excitement or subsequent reaction, and the 
dangers of lethargy. They hold, with an eminent pro- 
fessor in one of our theological seminaries, that "to 
a people trained under instructive and discriminating 
preaching, revivals of religion may come and go as 
the most natural process of religious experience, creat- 
ing no morbid excitement, and leaving behind them 
no perils to be feared and no evils to be corrected. 
They may be as natural as the tides — themselves a 

* " American Revivals," p. 272 (London : 1832). 



XIV INTRODUCTION. 

purifying agency, instead of needing, as actual revi- 
vals often do, to be themselves purified." They give 
examples of pastors and churches that have enjoyed a 
long succession of ingatherings without the aid of 
evangelists. Their study and aim are so to educate a 
church that it may have a harvest of souls every year. 
To this end they search out and train Christian work- 
ers among themselves, and organize daily meetings 
for the winning of souls. These meetings are separate 
but permanent services, and young converts find in 
them a sphere for efficient evangelistic work. 

It is but fair to add that some of these friends of 
pastoral evangelism favor professional revivalists, and 
would not hesitate, upon an emergency, to invite their 
co-operation. Having the charge of churches which 
have been taught and trained in revival labors, they 
consider that they have nothing to fear from the occa- 
sional visits of evangelists who, so far as they are con- 
cerned, come and go as auxiliaries and not as revolu- 
tionists. Among these pastors the Rev. Dr. William 
W. Newell, of New York City, may be classed as an 
honorable representative. Converted under the min- 
istry of Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, in Boston, he has 
been the successful pastor of several churches, in which 
he has established what he styles evangelistic meet- 
ings. While pastor of the Allen Street Presbyterian 
Church, N. Y. , these services were held every evening for 
three or four months every year. In their chief feat- 
ures they resembled the Fulton Street Prayer-Meeting. 
They were held for one hour ; the prayers, exhorta- 
tions, and hymns were very brief ; variety was stud- 
ied, and liberty was given to each one to take an active 
part in the service. The pastor led these meetings, 
and on Monday evenings gave a discourse, which was 



INTRODUCTION. XV 

intended to be attractive to outsiders, and to follow 
up the impressions of Sunday. Any one was free to 
ask the prayers of the faithful. The chorister, or some 
one familiar with a large number of appropriate hymns 
and tunes, struck a tune and verse suitable for the end 
of every prayer, Scripture reading, or address. The 
leader sometimes announced that speeches and long 
prayers were out of place. Whenever, amid so much 
freedom, there was a marked disregard of decorum, 
brevity, or appropriateness, the transgressor was pri- 
vately and kindly spoken to. Everything was short ; 
men dropped the usual beginnings and endings of 
prayer, and simply asked for what they most wanted. 
Sometimes the leader would say, " Now, Christians, 
tell us how you came to Christ. What led you to 
decision ? Can you commend Him to these friends ?" 
Then men of all ages would take part, and each 
would give a word of testimony. 

In answer to the question, How are converted men 
led to take part in the meetings ? Rev. Dr. Newell 
says : " The duty is at once urged upon them pri- 
vately. During the meeting the leader may say to the 
men, ' Have you recently received anything from God 
for which you would praise Him ? ' or, ' What has the 
Saviour done for you ? ' or, ' How did you find Him 
precious ? ' If these methods fail, a person may 
sometimes be called by name. . . . The easiest and 
best time for a man to speak in a prayer-meeting is 
when he commences his Christian life. Let churches 
never forget that this is the golden time ; and with 
multitudes it is now or never." 

But some one asks, Why not be content with one 
good week night meeting? Rev. Dr. Newell answers, 
Because each of the continuous meetings brings to- 



XVI INTRODUCTION. 

gether twice the number that one evening service 
would. These constant meetings draw ; they are very 
attractive ; there is something doing ; it is a daily 
business of absorbing interest and enjoyment. Again, 
amusements and unnecessary affairs are surrendered. 
It is not the meeting one night, and the theatre or the 
Masonic lodge the next. The mind is held steadily to 
solemn truth until the soul is saved. These young 
men feel that it is their business to bring their compan- 
ions to these services, and to labor for their salvation.* 

An annual harvest was reaped by this kind of work 
in the Allen Street Church. One year, two hundred 
and twenty persons expressed a hope in Christ. Dur- 
ing seven other years there was annually an average 
of eighty-five hopeful conversions. This revival con- 
tinued for twelve years. Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, with 
the help of Christian agencies differently organized, 
has for the last thirty years had large annual ingather- 
ings. That original and earnest pastor, Ludwig 
Harms, of Hermannsburg, near Hanover, Germany, 
had large accessions annually for seventeen years. 
Meetings for prayer or inquiry were held every even- 
ing. Many other examples from every evangelical de- 
nomination might be cited. 

But desirable as such a state of continual growth in 
numbers is, and laudable as is the aim to lead forward 
a church to this state, to many pastors the privilege is 
never given to realize this beautiful ideal ; and some 
who do realize it for several years are at length com- 
pelled to adopt evangelistic measures and instruments 

*" Revivals : How and When?" by Rev. William W. Newell, 
D.D., pp. 133-149. This author is an earnest advocate of continual 
revivals, and yet his attractive volume is marked by candor, good 
sense, and a judicious largeness of views. 



INTRODUCTION. xvn 

for the conversion of people whom they have failed to 
reach by ordinary means and agencies. This is not 
the place to ask the reader to stop and gaze fixedly at 
this important problem ; but the writer must venture, 
in passing along, to make one remark which, he has 
reason to fear, will, in some quarters, meet with a cold 
if not a freezing reception. Young pastors would, in 
the judgment of the writer, make their sermons more 
conducive to the ideal in question, if they would study 
to apply their themes with love, skill, and thorough- 
ness. One has only to look into recent volumes of 
sermons and works on homiletics to convince himself 
that the homiletical study of applications is much neg- 
lected. This remark is intended for pastors who are, 
as they think, reduced to the necessity of depending 
on stated Sunday services for gradual and continual 
ingatherings from the world. 

But to return and take another glance at the practice 
of such churches as aim to hold evangelistic services 
every year. Let not our statements be so understood 
as to mislead any one in any direction. We are not to 
suppose that these revival services were held every 
week throughout each year. During one or two 
months of the summer most city parishes are scat- 
tered. The mass of churchgoers are out of town, and 
of those who remain not a few are exhausted by the 
heat or prostrated by disease. In most sections of the 
country at this season, men, women, and children are 
overworked gathering in the harvests. A zealous 
evangelist of our acquaintance has always contended 
that we are everywhere to seek and expect a revival in 
the time of summer, and it is not to be denied that 
he has been blessed with several great awakenings dur- 
ing the hot season. But we have observed that the 



xvm INTRODUCTION. 

meetings were held in villages and cities along the 
New England coast, to which multitudes had fled 
from the killing heat of the West and South. We do 
not intend to maintain that there have been no revi- 
vals in very warm weather or in places oppressed with 
tropical heat. Generally, however, the case stands 
otherwise."" The preacher gives not the Gospel invita- 
tion, unless the people assemble to hear it ; but those 
who cannot be easily attracted to places of worship in 
the most pleasant weather, cannot usually be expected 
to go to church daily at a time when many of the most 
earnest communicants are fleeing from discomfort and 
disease to the mountains or the ocean. And yet, 
every Christian laborer may privately do much evange- 
listic work during the summer, and were this the place 
for it, we might point to examples of those who, by 
their prayers and serious talks, have turned to right- 
eousness many whom they providentially met on the 
lake, or the river, or the ocean, or the mountain, or 
in the wilderness. W T e therefore concur with Rev. 
Dr. Newell, while he is answering the question, Why 
not gather a harvest of souls at all seasons of the year ? 
" On this subject," says he, " there is some senseless 
talk. . . . The late fall and winter come ; the even- 
ings are long ; the air is bracing ; business is slack ; 
the city is filled with attractive amusements, and 

* The same remark applies to Scotland. The great awakenings 
that have occurred there in summer have either been near the coast 
or among the mountains, while the exceptional cases have, for the 
most part, been the revivals at the great communion meetings held in 
the open air, which so nearly resemble the American " camp-meet- 
ings." These last are, it is true, held in the summer, but very seldom 
in the warmest part of it, and when they are so held the airy situa- 
tion of the spot, together with the shadows of tents and groves, defend 
the people from the heat of noonday. 



IN TROD UCTION. xix 

Christians find that God in His sovereignty has made 
this season of the year most favorable to evangelistic 
meetings. And while we are planning, praying, and 
preparing for that time, we feel that God is always 
blessing us, and that we are striving to be as wise as 
the children of light ought to be." In New York 
City, for example, those churches which hold contin- 
uous revival services usually commence the first or 
second week in January, and close before the first of 
July. In one or two of these churches, at least, we 
are glad to know, the evenings of late spring and early 
summer are largely occupied in addresses and talks 
designed for the growth of young disciples in Christian 
wisdom and knowledge. 

And this suggests another caution : the success of 
continual revival services is dependent in part on the 
places where they are held. After a pretty careful 
review of experiments of this kind, we reach the con- 
clusion that they are very suitable for large and 
growing cities and villages, or in such sections of old 
and declining towns as, from any cause, are filled with 
young people. In many a large city the population 
rolls in and out and round about so rapidly that the 
stationary evangelist may reap as rich an annual har- 
vest as he would were he to visit many settled com- 
munities ; in the former case his audiences come to 
him ; in the latter he journeys in quest of his audi- 
ences. 

Just here arises the question whether churches 
thus situated and so deeming themselves called to 
devote themselves to the conversion of the multitudes 
that are drifting around and past them, are not in 
danger of taking one-sided views of the mission of a 
church and its ministry? In answer to this question 



XX INTRODUCTION. 

we must confess that many facts do point toward this 
danger. It is a mistake to suppose that the promo- 
tion of revivals, and consequently of the conversion of 
souls, is the supreme business of the Gospel ministry. 
It is only a part of their supreme business ; and every 
definition of the ends of Christian preaching is defec- 
tive which does not state in substance that they are 
to glorify God by the conversion of souls and the 
edification of the church. The neglect of either of 
these views or objects is very liable to be visited by its 
regular penalty. In what way or how soon the pen- 
alty will descend is often determined by the govern- 
ment of the church. For example, we have known 
churches, whose polity was congregational or indepen- 
dent, to give themselves almost exclusively to revival 
meetings from year to year. What followed ? These 
churches grew indeed in numbers, but, alas ! also in 
a proselyting spirit and in an emotional and sympa- 
thetic habit of mind unenlightened by Scripture knowl- 
edge and unfortified by true patience and meekness. 
Consequently they became so enfeebled by the acces- 
sion of such a membership, that when important 
church business was to be discussed fierce disputes 
and incurable divisions arose ; disintegration fol- 
lowed, and Bishop Berkeley's theory of the infinite 
divisibility of matter was very nearly realized. We 
are not here, be it observed, writing in disparagement 
of these particular forms of church government. 
Under other kinds of ecclesiastical polity the evils now 
under consideration might possibly have made their 
first appearance in the home, in society, or in the 
place of business. 

As a guard against these effects of religious dissipa- 
tion, seasons of devotional retirement are of no sec- 



IN TROD UC TION. xxi 

ondary importance, more particularly in large cities. 
Our blessed Lord's own example and His precepts 
on this subject (among which is that concerning secret 
prayer, to which is joined the promise of open rewards) 
should teach us the necessity and advantage of stated 
times of secret communion with God. Nor can we 
find, in the force of circumstances or the special calls 
of any ripe spiritual harvest-field, any substitute for 
this duty and privilege. Hear Cecil : " I am fully per- 
suaded that most religious tradesmen are defective in 
this duty, those especially in this great city (Lon- 
don). I tell every one of them so with whom I am 
intimately acquainted."* Hear Tholuck, writing in 
a quiet university town in Germany : " Men now live 
in the fleeting present, and have no longer time to 
think either of the past or of the future. The con- 
sequence is that even in the present they do not live 
as they ought." We are well aware that it would be 
very objectionable to advise certain classes of young 
converts to pass more time in their secret chambers. 
Doubts about doctrines are often removed by a 
prompt discharge of duties ; fledglings learn their own 
buoyancy and the various assistance they can receive 
from the atmosphere only by stretching their wings 
and sailing away from their nest. But still when the 
neophyte has such doubts on important doctrines as 
evidently proceed from a defective Scripture knowl- 
edge concerning these doctrines, the wisest course is 
to encourage him in a more thorough and prayerful 
investigation of the subject ; otherwise the interruption 
of his inquiries, by a resort to good-doing or evange- 



* " Remains of Rev. Richard Cecil." See his remarks " On Relig- 
ious Retirement" and " On a Spiritual Mind." 



x xn IN- TROD UCTION. 

listic services, may fail to remove preplexities for good 
and all. The clouds may return so long as the intel- 
lect shall remain logically unsettled. This appears to 
have been the case of Dr. Arnold, of Rugby. While 
he was a Fellow at Oxford, he had distressing doubts 
on certain points in the Thirty-nine Articles. As a 
remedy for these difficulties he was advised to pause 
in his inquiries and turn himself more strongly than 
ever to practical duties. This counsel has generally 
been thought to have been very wise ; the more so be- 
cause it was temporarily successful. We say tempo- 
rarily, for after repeated readings of his life and cor- 
respondence, we are convinced that it would have 
been more expedient to have allowed Arnold to go 
on battling with his scepticism until he had van- 
quished it, once for all. This would have increased his 
knowledge of theology, with which, as it was, he 
never gained a tolerable acquaintance. It was by his 
subsequent preaching that he was kept in the habit 
of studying the Scriptures, and so, as we think, saved 
himself from that extreme rationalism into which, had 
he followed a vocation totally secular, he would proba- 
bly have drifted ; although he would not, perhaps, have 
wandered into that mire (the Slough of Despond was 
nothing to this) through which his eldest son Matthew 
is wading — a mire which seems to be a compound of 
ignorance, prejudice, misbelief, and miserable fudge. 
From the known reputation of Mr. Matthew Arnold as 
a poet, a classical scholar, and an educator, one would 
have expected something far less chaotic, wretched, and 
dismal than his religious writings so often reveal. A 
general acceptance of his dogmas would be to toll a 
moral curfew — to sound a signal to extinguish all 
revealed lights, to cover up the last embers of Christian 



INTRODUCTION. xxm 

zeal, and to bid all consciences go to sleep in the 
prospect of a threatening hereafter. 

There is another class of converts, real or supposed, 
who should not be encouraged to put themselves for- 
ward in frequent and public meetings. They are of 
the character commonly advertised as " the greatest 
sinner in the city," " the blackest infidel in the city," 
and others of the same genus. All Protestants and 
many Catholics would, no doubt, concur in the opinion 
of Carlyle that Loyola ought to have followed his sup- 
posed conversion by a life of modest seclusion — " to 
cower, silent and ashamed, into some dim corner, and 
to resolve henceforth to make as little noise as possi- 
ble. That would have been modest, salutary ; that 
might have led to many other virtues and gradually to 
all." Which is more damaged, the good cause or the 
men themselves, by their forwardness, it were hard 
to determine. 

But still there are some to whom practice is the best 
proof. Among these are such as are full of doubts 
and fears about their conversion, and such as are 
naturally very timid and cautious, or those who pass 
for " old hopers." Richard Baxter, Henry Venn,* 
and Andrew Fuller agree in their testimony in behalf 
of the efficacy of Christian work as an antidote for 
despondency and chronic sadness. 

As for the question of the admissible use of the out- 
lines and sketches in the second part of our volume, we 
do not presume to speak in any preceptorial tone. 
Writers on scientific subjects have always adopted, 
without acknowledgment, what they consider the best 



*" Life of Rev. Henry Venn." See his paper on " Mistakes," etc. 
last paragraph. 



xxiv INTRODUCTION. 

methods of those who went before them in the same 
walks of knowledge ; and they have eschewed above 
all things the adoption of methods which sound criti- 
cism would regard as second-best. In like manner, 
students of theology are, for the most part, permitted 
to borrow such rhetorical partitions or chief-heads 
as they find most suitable for their object. Thus the 
young evangelist Burns,* educated at Aberdeen and 
Glasgow universities, and a vigorous and indepen- 
dent thinker though he was, did not hesitate to put 
on record the fact that in preaching on Deut. 32 : 35, 
he once on a memorable occasion availed himself of 
many hints in Jonathan Edwards's great sermon on the 
same text. A spring-tide of grace attended its deliv- 
ery at Perth: "an extraordinary measure of the 
Holy Ghost ; and the feeling of the hearers became so 
intense that when one man in the gallery exclaimed, 
' Lord Jesus, come and save me ! ' the great mass of the 
congregation gave expression to their emotion in a 
universal wailing." The student will find these out- 
lines and sketches profitable exercises in methodology ; 
and if he shall learn, not slavishly to copy, but freely 
to imitate them, he may hope that they will serve to 
discipline him in original thinking and furnish fuel for 
an earnest ministration of the Word. 

We have been guided, as far as possible, by the 
light of the past. The men of our day, particularly 
the most ardent men of the period, give no heed to 
the lessons of the past. They set no value on any 
experience except their own, not considering that 
this will be of less service to them than that of others. 
" Human experience," as Coleridge regretfully says, 

* " Memoir," by Rev. Dr. Islay Burns, pp. 150, 15.1. 



INTRODUCTION. xxv 

"like the stern-lights of a ship at sea, illumines only 
the path which we have passed over." But, he might 
have added, such lights are of manifold use to the in- 
ward man, while they serve to direct and cheer those 
who follow in our wake. 

There is one objection which, to one who merely 
glances at this volume here and there, may be judged 
to be well taken. It is this : you appear to satisfy 
yourself with partial inductions ; not unfrequentlyyou 
lay down a rule which you support with only one his- 
torical or biographical fact. You seem to forget that 
" one swallow does not make spring." But the reader 
may be assured that the facts here given are almost all 
of them representatives of large classes. But it would 
have been a heavy tax upon the patience of the 
reader to have paraded across these pages all the facts 
known to him, which go to support the many sugges- 
tions he has made. It has been our purpose to handle 
the subjects in such a way that when we cite testi- 
mony any veteran evangelist who may read it would 
be able to say : " This agrees with my own experi- 
ence and observation." 

We have set the highest estimate on such recorded 
facts as either convey or impress the lessons of wis- 
dom. And yet the writer has not been deaf to the 
voice of the passing hour ; he has hearkened dili- 
gently to the counsels of several evangelists now liv- 
ing. He has not always been able to make references 
to books, because some of the facts and hints here 
recorded for the first time are of the nature of oral 
traditions. Occasionally, no doubt, the reader will 
say, " Oh, I knew that very well before you told me ;" 
but, after all, the very things we all know so well 
are apt to lie forgotten just when we most need their 



xxvi INTRO D UC TION. 

assistance. Thus, more than once, have we met with 
incidents like the following : " In my early ministry 
an elder of a country church came to me and said, 
' Our pastor and church are very desirous you should 
come out and labor with them/ ■ What is the condi- 
tion of the church ? ' ' They are thoroughly prepared 
to work for a revival.' I trusted his word, left my 
own parish, and went out and preached every evening 
for two weeks. The community was aroused ; the 
sanctuary and inquiry room were filled ; but there was 
scarcely a single conversion ; the church were simply 
interested spectators. This was the last time I ever 
labored for a revival among the unconverted until my 
own heart and some members of the church were pre- 
pared for the effort." He knew better, but did not 
remember. 

There is, let me add, another and not less advanta- 
geous use to be made of revival narratives, which re- 
quires that the pastor or evangelist read them for him- 
self — I mean the selection and employment of them for 
matter of explanation, proof, and persuasion. No fact 
is better established than that the rehearsal of the inci- 
dents of other revivals has been of great service in 
many a work of grace. Let a single example stand 
forward in behalf of many. It was while the young 
Scottish evangelist, William C. Burns, was calling to 
mind the great achievements of the Spirit at the Kirk 
of Shotts, in 1630, under the preaching of the celebrat- 
ed John Livingstone, that his congregation at Kilsyth 
was overwhelmed with a flood of commingled sorrow 
and joy. ' The power of the Lord's Spirit became 
so mighty upon their souls as to carry all before it, like 
the rushing mighty wind of Pentecost." And in the 
revival meetings he afterward so successfully conduct- 



INTRODUCTION. xxvii 

ed in Dundee, he read as a part of the exercises 
Robe's narrative* of former revivals in the same part 
of Scotland. To reproduce a great number of the 
most affecting incidents in the history of revivals does 
not fall within the scope of the present work ; but we 
have given a long list of the most valuable narratives 
and biographies in evangelistic literature. Many of 
them are of great interest and profit ; some of them 
read much as if they were continuations of the Acts of 
the Apostles. 

In the mean time, new chapters in the history of re- 
vivals are in the course of composition. Evangelists 
who have won abundant success in Christian lands are 
going beyond the borders and invading heathendom. 
In his evangelistic zeal Varley has visited Australia, 
and Taylor is heard of now in India and now in South 
America. Burns, after laboring with the richest re- 
sults in Scotland and in Canada, carried the message 
of salvation to China, saw an awakening at Pechuia, 
which reminded him of a similar one at Kilsyth, and 
laid down his bones at last in Manchuria, an obscure 
but vast kingdom beyond the northern limits of China. 
Regular missionaries in their tours among heathens 
are adopting, more and more, the theories and prac- 
tices of home evangelists. The day is not distant, we 
hope, when thousands of evangelists will visit the 
remotest shores, repeating to weary and restless multi- 
tudes our Lord's compassionate and universal invita- 
tion : " Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy 

*" Memoir of Rev. William C. Burns, M.A.," by Rev. Dr. Islay 
Burns, pp. 95, 113 ; also " Evangelists in the Church," by Rev. P. C. 
Headley, p. 325, and Rev. James Robe's " Narrative of the Work of 
the Spirit at Cambuslang, Kilsyth, etc., in 1742." 



xxvm INTRODUCTION. 

laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon 
you, and learn of me : for I am meek and lowly in 
heart ; and ye shall find rest unto your souls For 
my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 



Part I. 

PRACTICAL 
HINTS CONCERNING REVIVALS. 



CHAPTER I. 

WORKING AND WAITING FOR A REVIVAL. 

Preparation by prayer and beneficence — Relation of missions to revi- 
vals — Our Sunday-schools need reconstruction— Unanimity not 
to be expected at the outset— The ideal Pentecost— Dr. Duff's 
hint — The time to wait — The call of Providence— The alterna- 
tions of judgment and mercy. 

Many there are who imagine that a revival is not 
to be deliberately- sought and worked for, but that 
it is to be waited for, as it must come as the season of 
spring or a shower of summer comes, without man's 
bidding, and in spite of his opposition. Nor is it to be 
doubted that not a few revivals have thus commenced. 
The churches and communities which they blessed 
abundantly had made no preparation for them, were 
not expecting them ; they could only confess that 
they were in desperate need of them, while they were 
totally unworthy to receive anything from the Lord, 
except His judgments. But the blessed Redeemer 
comes to His people at different seasons, from opposite 
quarters, and while they are looking for Him, as well 
as while they are asleep, or awake only to the service 
of the world or Satan. Fully persuaded, therefore, 
that very many revivals have been preceded by fitting 
preparation, we think it prudent to examine its kinds 
and degrees. 

The foremost means of getting ready for a general 
awakening is prayer. This means is so important that 
we make it the subject of an entire chapter. Next fol- 
lows giving for benevolent objects, especially for the 



4 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

conversion of the heathen. We say of the heathen, be- 
cause the reports which come to us in response to dona- 
tions have a direct tendency to revive a practical inter- 
est in the work of conversion, and to lead sinners 
among us to contrast their own unregenerated state 
with the regenerated state of many who never enjoyed 
their privileges and opportunities. Besides, this kind 
of beneficence is likely to be the most unselfish. If we 
work, pray, and give for our own family, congregation, 
or country, we may do this from motives that are 
largely selfish ; whereas, if we are beneficent toward 
the distant heathen, we rise superior to and fly far be- 
yond ourselves. Witness the experiment in the Mount 
Holyoke Seminary and in the Baptist Church at Ket- 
tering. Read the observations of President Edwards,* 
and look at the decay of those churches which do little 
or nothing for preaching the Gospel among idolaters. 

Tt is now in order to suggest the reform of many of 
our prayer-meetings. Our space forbids the mere 
mention of the abuses to be corrected and the improve- 
ments to be introduced in too many of the stated meet- 
ings for prayer and exhortation, f 

Of scarcely less importance is the entire revolution 
of very many of our Sunday-schools. Whatever indus- 
try, talent, and wealth can do to make them attractive 
has in many schools been done, and yet, alas ! in 
Scripture knowledge there is very slow growth, and in 
the Redeemer's inward kingdom no growth at all. 
But the revolution demanded should begin with the 

* " Recollections of Mary Lyon," by Fidelia Fisk ; " The Memoirs 
of Andrew Fuller ;" the works of President Edwards, " Thoughts on 
the Revival of Religion," Part V. 

f Fail not to read "The Prayer-Meeting," by the Rev. L. O. 
Thompson. 



WORKING AND WAITING FOR A REVIVAL. 5 

superintendents and teachers. It may be of little 
advantage to displace them. It is better, if the church 
can afford it, to have none but hired superintendents, 
of approved piety and intelligence, with a sense of 
obligation and of strict accountability both to Christ 
and the Church. At any rate, there should be a two- 
fold aim : to cultivate the conscience and to lead to the 
Saviour. The study of the Old Testament will pro- 
mote the former ; of the New Testament, the latter. 
With all its faults, it must still be said that the Sunday- 
school of to-day is the Church of the future. At 
teachers' prayer-meetings the leader may request the 
mention of the names of any whom the teachers desire 
to carry to the Throne of Grace. They may be 
divided into classes, as the insensible, the convicted, 
those with whom the Holy Spirit appears striving, 
such as seem to be hardening under affliction, etc. 

Here we subjoin the preparation of the Church in the 
matter of confessing faults, composing differences, 

breaking up the fallow ground, ' ' -taking out of the way 
stones and stumbling-blocks, endeavoring after a posi- 
tive no less than a negative goodness, and the foster- 
ing of forbearance and compassion toward such fellow- 
disciples as we cannot regard with complacency. 

In almost every church there are found, at times, 
some who have, for no sufficient reason, abandoned 
the habit of going to church. If the pastor has any 
reason to suspect that they have come to dislike him 
or his preaching, he can, nevertheless, while visiting 
his flock, urge them to come to the prayer-meetings, 
more especially if the church has tried to make them 
more attractive, instructive, and cheering. 

Rare indeed are the churches that at the beginning 
of a work of grace unanimously give their voices in 



6 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

f- vor of it. The young pastor who means to win 
souls will do well to commence with securing the co- 
operation of a few prudent and trustworthy helpers. 
And if the principal burdens of the work fall to their 
share, from first to last, let him not wonder. Let him 
remember how the army of Gideon was purposely re- 
duced to a small company, and what a decisive and 
glorious victory was won over Sisera, for all the tribes 
of Israel, by the two tribes Zebulun and Naphtali. 
Consider, too, how excellent men may be misled by 
the delusion that all revivals of God's work are just 
alike, and are prejudiced by the memory of some great 
awakening that came, all of a sudden, upon a whole 
nation. We have somewhere read of a Scottish 
minister who was always praying for a true revival, 
while he found fault with the recent American, Irish, 
and Scottish revivals. Such men forget that there 
was but one day of Pentecost, and that the apostles 
did not refuse to go forward because they could not 
have a second. 

In addition to week-day meetings for prayer, praise, 
and exhortation, there should be on Sunday new 
preaching services, and if possible, in new places. The 
course recommended by the late eloquent and re- 
nowned missionary, the Rev. Dr. Alexander Duff,* is 
intended for cities, but is even more practicable in 
village and country churches. It is this : The pastor 
is to say to his people, " We must cease to be 
selfish ; and therefore in the afternoon I will get 
another person to take my place in the pulpit. He 
will give you wholesome truth on which to feed. 
While he is addressing you, I will be down yonder, 

* " Life," by Dr. George Smith, vol. ii. p. 304. 



WORKING AND WAITING FOR A REVIVAL. 7 

speaking to poor souls who have never had any of the 
bread that came down from heaven ; and therefore 
in your prayers remember them and me." 

In the ordinary affairs of life, the time to wait is 
after we have done all we can by word and deed to 
accomplish our object. But as in the kingdom of 
Christ we cannot work to any good purpose without 
His gracious assistance, our best exertions, at times, 
partake of the nature of waiting. In seasons of weari- 
ness and discouragements, this is the principal duty 
that remains for us to do. Then we must " rest in 
the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." * According 
to the Hebrew idiom, we are to "be silent to the 
Lord" — that is, if we rightly understand the meaning, 
we are to desist from our importunities, and occupy 
ourselves in thanks and praise. We are to cease at- 
tempting to serve him by a troubled and murmuring ex- 
citement, but rather make melody in our hearts unto 
the Lord. It is while engaged in this part of worship 
that the long-expected blessing sometimes comes. f 

And this accounts for the fact that in some in- 
stances, when the prayer-meeting has been changed 
into a praise-meeting, there has been heard " a sound 
of abundance of rain." 

This brings us to the place where we can glance at 
the relations of revivals to the severe and gracious 
providences of God. As the vicissitudes of day and 
night are friendly to the material world, so the pros- 
perous and adverse events of providence are beneficial 
to the moral world. But the co-operation of provi- 
dence and grace suggests many problems that are too 

* Comp. Ps. 65 : 1 ; 62 : 1-5 ; 37 : 7. 
\ 2 Chron. 5 : 13, 14 ; 2 Kings 3 : 15. 



8 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

mysterious for us to solve. The subject is sublimely 
and profoundly illustrated in the first chapter of 
Ezekiel. where Jehovah is represented as riding in His 
chariot ; while on the human and practical side it is 
illustrated by the 107th Psalm. This psalm teaches 
many things, but reiterates the lesson that hearty 
praise is better than the petitions which are pressed 
out of our troubled hearts by the heavy hand of adver- 
sity ; and in the closing lines we are taught that afflic- 
tions are dictated by the loving-kindness of the Lord. 
The history of revivals proves that great works of 
grace have gone before and followed great national 
calamities, and this has been the case of lesser awaken- 
ings in churches and small communities. Very in- 
structive are those successive visions of the Apoca- 
lypse, 14 : 14-20, in which we behold the Lord Jesus 
crowned with gold, as King of the harvest, sitting on 
a white cloud — the emblem of holiness and peace — 
holding in his hand the sharp sickle of the effectual 
Gospel. He reaps the ripened wheat of the land — in 
other words, converts part of the passing generation. 
Then follows the angel of justice with a sharp sickle, 
and goes into the vineyard and cuts off the clusters of 
grapes, and casts them unto the wine-press of the 
wrath of God. Now, as always, mercy goes before 
judgment ; while prayer, whether it be the deep-voiced 
intercession for pardon or the bitter cry for avenge- 
ment, marks and calls out the harvest hour for both. 
Some of the following chapters are discussions of the 
same subject, although with more unity and detail ; 
while many of the preparatory texts and subjects are 
classified in the indexes. 



CHAPTER II. 



PRAYER IN ITS RELATION TO AWAKENINGS, 

Importance of secret prayer — Prayer-meetings "preparing work for 
Livingstone, Whitefield, Edwards, and others— Quiet beginnings 
— Too much talk about revivals — Sheardown on dependence on 
God alone — Value of news concerning works of grace— Provi- 
dence and the Spirit — Furthersome accidents — Specific interces- 



PRAYER is the right arm of evangelism. Very many 
are the instances of revivalists who in emergencies, and 
especially when the work of God in a community 
seemed to pause, or after long and apparently unavail- 
ing labor have passed whole nights and days in se- 
cret prayer. Indeed, such cases are not uncommon. 
There will be times when the providence of the 
Spirit says to the evangelist, Cease for a while to deal 
with the people on behalf of God, and give thyself to- 
night or to-day to dealing with God in behalf of the 
people and thyself. We do not say that such prayers 
will always prevail for the objects urged. Sometimes 
the answer has been : Pray no longer for a continuance 
of the work of reviving grace in this place. But in 
most cases such importunities and pleadings have been 
answered soon, and with fresh manifestations of saving 
power. 

Much is it to be desired that numbers agree to meet 
and pray for the blessing ^of the Spirit upon the com- 
ing revival and the expected meetings. The Divine 
favor has almost always approved such assemblages. 
One example is as familiar as it is impressive. It is 



io REVIVAL SERVICE. 

that of the young John Livingstone, whose sermon on 
Monday, the 1st of June, at the Kirk of Shotts, when 
nearly five hundred were converted., was preceded by 
a prayer-meeting, which continued through the Sun- 
day night preceding. And when Whitefield was trav- 
elling through Scotland in 1771, "the Lord counte- 
nanced him in a very convincing manner, particularly at 
a place called Lundie, five miles north of Dundee. 
Scarcely had he begun when the presence of Divine 
power was very discernible.'' "Never," adds his 
fellow-traveller, " did 1 see such weeping in any con- 
gregation." 

Whence, according to human judgment, came the 
beginnings of his success in Lundie ? From a meeting 
of a considerable number of serious Christians, who, 
hearing that he was to come that way, spent most part 
of the preceding night in prayer. Well known are the 
immediate and lasting effects of the sermon entitled, 
" Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," which 
President Edwards preached at the time of the " Great 
Awakening." It was believed that the sermon owed 
much of its success to the earnest petitions of a few be- 
lieving persons who spent the whole of the previous 
night in a prayer-meeting in the vicinity (Enfield). 
These prayers were made the more earnest by the 
fear that God, who was blessing other places, would 
in just indignation pass them by. A short time before 
the great revival that took place at East Hampton, 
Long Island, in the summer of 1764, some of the good 
people became wrestling Jacobs in their determina- 
tion to receive the blessings of salvation. * Similarly 
was prayer instrumental in the Scottish revival at 

* The Rev. Dr. Samuel Buell's " Narrative," p. 2S. 



PR A YER IN ITS RE LA TIOiV TO A WAKENINGS, r r 

Moulin in 1800, at Arran in 181 3, at Skye in 18 14, at 
Lewes in 1834, and at Kelsyth during the early 
stages of the Spirit's majestic doings in that town.* 
We would not. of course, be understood as saying 
that every instance of the Lord's gracious returns to 
His people is totally dependent on known importuni- 
ties. The real human sources of many revivals are 
more secret and remote. They have often been traced 
to some poor sick disciple, praying at home for years, 
or to a little band of believers meeting according to 
mutual pledges, and at times and places unknown or 
unconsidered by the mass of formal professors. The 
great harvesting of souls which in 1859 began in Ire- 
land and advanced thence to Scotland and England, 
had its obscure source in a meeting of four young men 
for prayer in an old country school-house. + 

When, therefore, a pastor or evangelist is about to 
commence special meetings, he will do well to inquire 
whether any are or have been secretly or quietly pray- 
ing for a gracious visitation of the Lord. If he shall 
be so happy as to find out such hidden ones, it would 
not always be wise to proclaim his discovery. It will 
suffice if it move him to obtain from others the promise 
that they will secretly and, if possible, unitedly remem- 
ber the anticipated services at the throne of grace. 
Nor should he be satisfied with cold and formal 
requests and responses. He should urge the impor- 
tance and necessity of such intercession and importu- 
nity from the Scriptures of truth and the history of 
revivals. 

Ordinarily it is not prudent to seek at the outset of 

* " Lectures on Revivals by Ministers of Scotland," p. 335. 
f " The Year of Grace," by Professor Gibson, p. 41. 



12 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

special services a general discussion of the expediency 
of the undertaking, and then call for a vote on the 
question. So far from this, it is very seldom wise to 
talk much about a revival, even while one is in 
progress. Rather should we unite all our forces to 
pray that the Lord may continue and extend His own 
saving work, and to co-operate with Him in the use 
of all the means of grace. 

There may be a great deal of cant and formality in 
preparing for special services. Revival hymns are, 
perhaps, learned and repeated in an unfeeling and un- 
seasonable manner. Such as have assisted in former 
revivals take every opportunity to talk about, rather 
than to pray and work for the Lord's gracious visita- 
tion ; while overvaluing their own narrow individual 
observation and experience, they are very positive that 
if certain means and measures are adopted, many 
sinners will be brought to repentance, and the Church 
be elevated to a Pentecostal power and joy. But 
let us hearken to the voice of a venerable pioneer of 
thirty-five years' experience,* and all the more atten- 
tively because it is in accord with the voices of many 
other revivalists : " Sometimes a church will send for 
an evangelist, in order that they may have what they 
call a good time. They will pray, sing, and talk with 
a great deal of emphasis, but they do not possess that 
peculiar state of mind which prepares them to be 
workers with God. It is often necessary, in the 
first place, to take away from the church all human 
dependence, just as much as it is to endeavor to take 
away the sinner's dependence, or that in which he 
trusts. This I have never known to fail, that when- 

* " Life and Times of the Rev, Thomas S. Sheardown," p. 198. 



PR A YER IN ITS RELA TION TO A WAKENINGS. 13 

ever a church, under the proclamation of God's truth, 
was led to cry out as Rachel did, ' Give me children 
or I die/ sinners have been converted to God, and 
Zion has been increased by an addition of living mem- 
bers. " 

While, therefore, cant is to be carefully avoided, it 
is very promotive of a revival to obtain and communi- 
cate facts concerning special works of grace in other 
places. Plain and unexaggerated statements of this 
kind have many a time caused " great searchings of 
heart," driven a church to renewed prayer, and kindled 
a flame of zeal in hundreds of hearts and homes. The 
news of the revival of 1858 in the United States, 
wafted across the Atlantic in every steamer, was 
plainly instrumental in enlisting the hearts of 
thousands in a similar work in Ireland, Scotland, and 
England. In a single and incomplete narrative of this 
awakening in Great Britain,* there are a dozen pas- 
sages which serve to fix a proper value on this means 
of advancing the work. Among these influences were 
the reports which good men, fresh from the work of 
winning souls in other places, made to communities 
that were praying for a gracious visitation of the 
Spirit. Two things greatly add to the effect of this 
means : the newness of the intelligence, and the readi- 
ness of the people to receive it. Accounts of awaken- 
ings in former times given to a formal or dead-alive 
people will, perhaps, do more harm than good. The 
spread of a fire depends much on the nature and con- 
dition of the fuel. 



* "Authentic Records of Revival," edited by the Rev. William 
Reid, with an introduction by the Rev. Dr. Horatius Bonar (Nesbet, 
Lond., i860). 



14 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The preparations of Divine Providence are often still 
more remote. Events apparently the most adverse 
are ultimately found to have been the mysterious 
beginnings of a state of great spiritual prosperity. At 
times there seems to be a conflict between the course 
of Providence and the ways of the Divine Spirit. In 
such seasons of perplexity, let us ever pray that all 
clouds may be driven from our sky, so that, with 
Ezekiel, we may see the wheels and the spirits moving 
in close connection and in one direction. While the 
Rev. Dr. Daniel Baker was travelling in Virginia, his 
horse stumbled, and in falling broke a shaft of his gig. 
Detained at Charlotte Court-House until the injury 
was repaired, he was invited to preach in the place. 
He consented to do so, and this led him to hold an 
unbroken series of meetings in Virginia, which con- 
tinued a whole year, and resulted, it was thought, in 
the conversion of about a thousand persons. It was 
only a slight illness that detained Charles Simeon for 
a summer's day at Dunkeld, in Scotland. But this led 
to another more vexatious delay ; for it brought him to 
Pitlochrie to be detained for another day, on account 
of what was to him an unexpected fast in the little 
parish of Moulin. And yet both these delays were 
parts of the Lord's gracious design in making Mr. 
Simeon the instrument of converting the parish 
minister, and in preparing the way for a revival m 
Moulin and other parts of the Highlands — a revival 
that eventuated in the conversion of Alexander Duff, 
who afterward became the eloquent and renowned 
missionary to India. Once Whitefield had made every 
preparation to embark for America. He had preached 
a farewell sermon to his friends in London, and had 
set out for the sea-coast, where he was to begin his 



PR A YER IN ITS RE LA TION TO A WAKENINGS. 15 

voyage, but an unlooked-for embargo disconcerted his 
plans, and compelled him, for a time, to resume his 
labors in England. Such, however, was the success of 
his preaching in several cities, while the ship was shut 
up in port, that he was ultimately moved to thank God 
for the embargo. * It was an accident that led to the 
great revival in 1630, at Shotts, in a sequestered corner 
of Scotland. Some ladies of rank were one day passing 
the manse, when their carriage broke down. The 
minister, Mr. Hance, invited them to remain in his 
house until it could be repaired. During their stay 
in the manse they noticed that it was small and 
dilapidated. In gratitude for the minister's kind atten- 
tions to them, they built a new house and on a better 
situation. Whereupon Mr. Hance thanked the ladies, 
and asked them how he could worthily testify his grati- 
tude. They desired him to invite some ministers of 
their acquaintance to assist him at the next communion. 
Accordingly a large number of people from all parts of 
the country assembled. On the following Monday, June 
2 1st, John Livingstone preached that sermon which 
made him and the obscure little place among the most 
famous in the history of revivals. These special provi- 
dences of the Holy Spirit in reference to revivals are 
worthy of careful observation and grateful acknowl- 
edgment. These are shown in the accidents of life 
not only, but in our relations to parents, teachers, and 
pastors as well. Books read, strangers talked with, 
loss of wealth or employment, disappointments, loss 
of children or others very dear to us, severe sickness, 
or threatened death, may be so ordered by the Spirit 

* " Life," by Dr. George Smith, vol. ii . , p. 327 See Whitefield's 
" Journals," No. V., p. 7. 



1 6 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

as to disengage the mind from this world, and draw at- 
tention to the next. They may be the pre-arranged 
means of removing obstacles in our way to the hearing 
of the Gospel, and thus serve as a negative preparation 
for the work of regeneration. They may go tar to shape 
the terrene form of the new man, so that it may receive 
the divine breath of a new life.* Two happy deaths 
heralded one great revival. f But to return and make 
an end. Intercession for particular persons has often 
been observed as a sign of the near presence of the 
mighty Saviour. Large and comprehensive petitions 
do not offer so hopeful an omen. When we pray for 
the speedy conversion of a whole city or nation we can 
hardly ask in faith, nothing doubting. Few such pray- 
ers were ever answered, and for one very good reason : 
such vast results are almost always reached gradually, 
through a long course of time. If we are deeply 
moved by the Spirit of all grace, our prayers become 
personal and individual. We single out friends and 
relatives as the subjects of intercession and unceasing 
importunity. ' Why do you expect a revival? ' re- 
joined a pastor to a wise and zealous member of his 
flock. " Because," was the reply, " I have learned 
this evening that three members of our church are pray- 
ing for the same individuals. Each is ignorant of the 
strong desires of the others. It is the Spirit of God 
alone that can thus operate simultaneously on these 
minds. ' ' This tendency to individualize becomes habit- 
ual with some winners of souls ; so much so, at times, 

* The Rev. Dr. William Anderson, in his treatise on " Regenera- 
tion," distinguishes between the providence of the Spirit and inspira- 
tion in this gracious change. His discussion of the subject is original 
and instructive, pp. 133-137. 

f The Rev. Dr. S. Buell's Narrative, p. 136, 



PR A YER IN ITS RE LA TION TO A WAKENINGS. I 7 

that they indulge in public and shocking personali- 
ties. 

We will only add, that whenever the pastor contem- 
plates special services he will best prepare the way for 
these, not by trying to enlarge his Sunday congrega- 
tions, but his week-day prayer-meetings. In his pas- 
toral visits he may meet with many neglecters of the 
Sunday services, who will perhaps be able to make 
very fair excuses for neglecting these services, and some 
may be so bold as to confess that they do not like the 
preaching. But if he make no mention of the neglect 
of Sunday worship, while he urge the importance of 
going to the week-day meeting for prayer, he will 
prevent the fabrication of some of their excuses, and 
possibly prepare the way for such an awakening as will 
lead back these wanderers to all the services of the 
Church. 



CHAPTER III. 

CHOICE OF SUBJECTS AND TEXTS FOR REVIVAL 
SERMONS. 

General and special themes — The chief end of a true revival — Preach- 
ing on elevating subjects— Combining Law and Gospel — Testi- 
mony of Dr. Tholuck — Texts which have been honored by the 
Spirit— Danger of exclusive attention to the Holy Ghost— A list 
of common topics — Dr. Kirk's opinion— Doctrine and practice 
disconnected— Preaching to the brotherhood — Professed readi- 
ness may be unreadiness — Future punishment— To be taught 
Scripturally and in love. 

The evangelist is never able to take thought for the 
morrow concerning his text or his theme ; and yet he 
may probably be able to say in general what classes 
of subjects are best suited to the beginning or middle 
or end of such a work of grace. Or he may tell us 
what subjects have been the most manifestly blessed 
as instruments of the Spirit in his own ministrations. 

In considering this question we ought to begin with 
the postulate that the end of evangelistic preaching is 
to glorify the triune God, by seeking the reclamation of 
backsliders, the reformation of professors, and the con- 
version of the impenitent. Now it is a deplorable fact 
that a so-called revival may begin, continue, and close 
with apparent success because of many additions to a 
church,' while, alas ! the triune God has not been 
exalted in the estimation of the Church. Indeed, the 
conclusion of the work has been signalized by a revival 
of irreverence for the Word, for the ministers, and for 
the house of the Lord. Some evangelists are so fully 
occupied in describing the nature and wickedness of 



CHOICE OF SUBJECTS AND TEXTS. 19 

men, and the various forms or stages of Christian 
experience, that they find no time to dwell on the 
attributes and perfections of God. Very strange to 
these must appear the message borne by the angel 
once seen flying in the midst of heaven, having the 
everlasting Gospel to preach. That message is (Rev. 
14:6): "Fear God and give glory to Him . . . 
worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, 
and the fountains of waters." Such, we apprehend, 
was the spirit and good effect of the preaching. It 
magnified the supreme excellences of God, and taught 
all nations that they would best display the fruits of 
conversion to Christ by obeying and adoring the Maker 
of heaven and earth, the Saviour of mankind, and the 
Spirit of all grace. Be it remembered that the Gos- 
pel, as first preached by angels, began with the song, 
*' Glory to God in the highest." 

We need not wonder, therefore, that such subjects 
and texts have been most unmistakably and frequently 
attended with reviving and regnerating grace as have 
most clearly and vividly exhibited the character, at- 
tributes, and works of the Father, Son, and Spirit in 
their relation to revivals. This kind of preaching is 
many a time the thunder and lightning that remove 
the stagnation, miasma, and the oppressive heat that 
before pervaded the moral atmosphere, and are 
followed by a cool, bracing, and refreshing breeze from 
the presence of the Lord. Very numerous are the 
proofs and illustrations of this statement. Here is 
one : A Presbyterian minister in Vermont writes to this 
effect. A powerful revival had just commenced in a 
manufacturing village in the town of B. A great 
number were awakened and much alarmed, but there 
had been but few conversions. In view of this state 



20 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

of things, the church had appointed a day of fasting 
and prayer. At the meeting that was held (nearly a 
thousand persons being present) the deepest solemnity 
and stillness prevailed, interrupted only by a sigh or 
a groan from some burdened heart. A neighboring 
minister preached in the morning. Mr. Clark, in the 
afternoon, to the surprise and grief of many (myself 
among the rest), preached on the sovereignty of God. 
But the sermon told on those awakened, guilty hearts, 
and from that hour the work went on with increased 
power.* There are no doubt many congregations and 
occasions to which this and kindred topics would be ill 
adapted, but thus much may be said in general, that 
whenever the preacher is in doubt about the choice of 
his theme, he may pretty safely rise in soul and select 
a subject that dwells on the Godward aspects of the 
work. When an evangelist visits a church with whose 
spiritual condition he is not well acquainted, he will 
often find Mr. Finney's methods suggestive. He first 
informed himself on two points : where are his hearers 
at the time doctrinally, and where are they practically ? 
If they have been much under the influence of the doc- 
trine of God's sovereignty, he preached responsibility. 
If he was in an Arminian atmosphere, he would show 
God on the throne. But his aim being more particularly 
to get false professors out of the way, and cold profes- 
sors into the work of revival, he generally began with a 
thorough handling of the law and awakening the con- 
science or raising the thoughts of the people to higher 

* The " Complete Works of the Rev. Dr. Daniel A. Clark," vol. i. 
p. 35. In the great revival at East Hampton in 1764, the most suc- 
cessful preaching combined the Law and the Gospel. " Revival in 
East Hampton," etc., by the Rev. Samuel Buell, D.D. (Sag Harbor, 
1808), p. 78. 



CHOICE OF SUBJECTS AND TEXTS. 21 

conceptions of God's requirements and the nature 
of true holiness, humbling the pride of man, chasing 
the soul out of every false refuge, and urging an 
immediate surrender to the Lord's supremacy, and an 
immediate acceptance of His grace. Mr. Finney some- 
where says that the general character of his doctrinal 
preaching, during his earlier life, was formed by his 
opposition to the high Calvinism which, as he believed, 
hindered the progress of revivals in many of the com- 
munities in which he was called to labor. 

A distinguished and very successful pastor informed 
the writer that once, when he and his people had 
determined to invite a certain evangelist to assist him, 
he commenced a series of sermons on subjects that 
powerfully appealed to the conscience, in order, as far 
as possible, to prepare the way for the evangelist, who, 
as he thought, was too weak in his addresses to 'the 
consciences and the fears of his audiences. 

" I have observed," says Tholuck, " that wherever 
in the Roman Catholic Church faithful pastors have 
preached the way of life, spiritual hunger and thirst 
have always been excited to a greater extent than in 
the Lutheran Church. From what other cause does 
this arise than the fact that our people have been sur- 
feited with the continual preaching of the Gospel, with- 
out calls to repentance ; whereas among them the 
preaching of repentance and of the Law abounds, while 
there is a dearth of the preaching of the Gospel." 

It is a matter of some interest to inquire what texts 
have been the most highly honored by the Divine 
Spirit in the conversion of souls. The text used by 
the celebrated John Livingstone, at the Kirk of 
Shotts, with such memorable effect, was Ezek. 36 : 25. 
The words "that every mouth may be stopped" 



22 REVIVAL SERVICE. ' 

(Rom. 3 : 19), as preached by President Edwards, 
produced the most immediate saving fruit that he had 
ever found as the effect of one discourse. While 
Whitefield was preaching in Scotland the text that was 
most blessed to individuals from whom he afterward 
heard was from Isa. 54 : 5 : " Thy Maker is thy 
husband." The most of those who were converted 
through the instrumentality of this sermon were men. 

Fifty persons were brought to resolve to seek salva- 
tion by the blessing of the Spirit on Nettleton's sermon 
from the text Gen. 6 : 3. In two instances President 
Dwight's sermon on Jeremiah 8 : 20 : " The harvest is 
past," etc., was the beginning of a revival among the 
students of Yale College. In the first work of grace 
nearly half of them were united to the college church. 
Similar effects were ascribed to its delivery on two 
other occasions in different places. 

After considerable observation and some little ex- 
perience, we are most thoroughly persuaded that Sa- 
tan's most frequent and most destructive imitations of 
true revivals are to-day attended with so much preach- 
ing, exhortation, and prayer concerning the Holy 
Spirit as to drown the voice of the Gospel as to salva- 
tion through Christ. The end of the Spirit's mission 
is to convince the world of sin, because they believe 
not on Him, and to glorify Him (John 16 : 9, 14). 
Every experience and testimony that does not lead 
sinners beyond the Spirit and its operations, to an 
apprehension of and belief in Jesus, is, at best, of 
doubtful effect ; and is often, we fear, productive of 
deception and despair. Almost all those who exalt 
the Spirit at the expense of Jesus (and, alas ! of anxious 
souls) are loud in professions of wonderful transports 
and of assured confidence, as well as clamorous in 



CHOICE OF SUBJECTS AND TEXTS 23 

prayer and uncharitable in reproof. Deplorable in- 
deed is the condition of sinners who are exposed to 
such delusive or rather diabolic assaults. Jesus stands 
at the door and knocks, but He is not heard ; for 
Satan has breathed up an infernal wind, which is roar- 
ing among the trees, howling in the chimneys, and 
shaking the windows. 

The matter of revival sermons is of far greater im- 
portance than the manner of their delivery, their style, 
or the person who preaches them. The list of topics 
on which Nettleton and other revivalists of his day 
dwelt were the holiness and immutability of God, the 
unchangeable obligations of the divine law, the de- 
pravity of the natural heart, the necessity of regener- 
ation, the free offers of the Gospel, the fulness and all 
sufficiency of the atonement, the reasonableness and 
necessity of immediate repentance and submission, 
the variety of the refuges and excuses of sinners, and 
the manner, guilt, and danger of slighting, resisting, 
and opposing the operations of the Holy Spirit ; the 
inability of man to reconcile himself to God by his 
own works, the justice of God in the everlasting con- 
demnation of sinners, the sovereignty of God in the 
salvation of sinners, and that He is not under any 
obligation to save them. These subjects were not 
always formally discussed, but the Scriptures of truth 
concerning them were freely declared and applied in 
an experimental and practical way, as the occasion 
demanded. And yet a less strictly Calvinistic kind of 
doctrine has often been seemingly successful. " Men 
of vaiious theological schools agree in the results of 
their preaching, while from local causes, and their in- 
dividual theological views even, they differ in their 
selection of topics. In the hands of some men the 



24 REVIVAL SERVICE, 

sovereignty of God in election and regeneration is a 
Damascus blade to human pride. Others never present 
it without a paralyzing effect, awakening resistance 
and discouraging the action of the human will. The 
Calvinist and the Arminian, Whitefield and Wesley, 
are both owned of the Master in the work of convert- 
ing the soul.*'* 

Facts in the history of revivals indicate that the 
extremes alike of Calvinism and Arminianism are 
unfriendly to a large and good success in this depart- 
ment of Christian exertion. An aged evangelist, who 
was very long and very extensively useful, once told 
the writer that the reading of the works of Andrew 
Fuller (a moderate Calvinist) had been more profitable 
to him than any other human production. Preachers 
there are who escape wrong applications of their ser- 
mons by combining an equal incapacity for theology 
and for logic. They proclaim heresies in abundance, 
but being almost always inconsequential in their rea- 
sonings, their practical inferences are often excellent, 
and of great service in revivals. May not this class 
of evangelists be among those of whom it is said, 
" Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the King- 
dom of Heaven" ? Anyhow, they are made strong 
through two weaknesses, which should not, as we are 
apt to think, afflict most men of God. But still, as 
some " held the truth in unrighteousness," so, by way 
of counterpoise, others hold error in righteousness. 
There is yet another hopeful class. The fashionable 
method of teaching theology, which omits all con- 
sideration of practical consequences, and concludes 
each part of the system without applications, forms in 

* The Rev. Dr. E. N. Kirk, " Lectures on Revivals," p. 264. 



CHOICE OF SUBJECTS AND TEXTS. 25 

the mind of the average student the notion that 
systematic theology has very little to do with Christian 
work, experience, and worship. If, therefore, erroneous 
theories are thus inculcated, they may, happily, in 
cases not a few, fail to. quench the zeal or cripple the 
activity of the Christian laborers thus mistaught. 

An aged revivalist, after a very successful ministry 
of over fifty years, says that the most of his preaching 
has been addressed to the active members of the 
Church, believing that when Zion, has put on her 
strength mighty works will be accomplished. Hence 
he has devoted but very few sermons exclusively to 
the unconverted. 

In one instance a pastor whose sermons were very 
searching and promotive of self-examination, was fol- 
lowed by a preacher who began and continued in 
strains of hope and benevolent earnestness. He all 
along took it for granted that the Church were equally 
prepared for heaven and for work. Large ingather- 
ings followed. 

When, however, this hopeful and joyful strain of 
preaching only serves, like the drum and the fife, to 
drown the groans of the wounded or to disguise fear, it 
is but the means of advancing a superficial and evanes- 
cent excitement. A certain evangelist was invited to 
hold a series of meetings in a distant place. On reaching 
the church he found the brethren engaged in singing 
the praises of God, and apparently filled with joy and 
rejoicing. One of the deacons declared to him, " We 
are all ready to go to work. I do not think you ever met 
such a church in your life. We are all right." li You 
have told the truth, my brother/' was the preacher's 
answer, " for it has never yet been my lot to see the 
church that was all right, just as God would have 



2 6 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

them." However, the evangelist was assured that he 
had only to preach to the unconverted, and immediate 
success would follow. Accordingly he commenced 
with sermons to the impenitent, who soon filled the 
place of worship. Many were convicted, but not one 
was converted. The evangelist now more than 
suspected that all was not right, and on diligent search 
found an injured and alienated member of the church. 
The church met and composed their differences. The 
fruit of unity was immediate. On the very night of 
the meeting for reconciliation, five hearts that had 
been burdened with guilt (although ignorant of the 
trouble in the church) found freedom and joy. These 
were the first ingatherings of a harvest of about four 
hundred souls. In such cases, be it remembered, the 
Spirit does not wait because of mere matters of opin- 
ion or inveterate prejudices, but on account of moral 
wrongs that destroy fellowship and so quench the 
Spirit. 

As this treatise professedly leans on the past, it may 
be reasonably expected to ask what is the verdict of 
revivalists respecting the preaching of future punish- 
ment. I have read the history of many revivals, and 
the biographies of many pastors and evangelists, but 
have failed to discover any real and lasting work of 
grace in the course of which the Scripture doctrine of 
future punishment was either denied or ignored. No 
fact is more clearly established than this. Nor is it 
contradicted by antecedent probability. It is obvious 
that the great Creator knew His own creatures when, 
in order to move them to secure their eternal safety, 
he appealed not only to their hopes but to their fears 
as well. There are caverns in the human soul which 
will never be visited by the light of Gospel day unless 



CHOICE OF SUBJECTS AND TEXTS. 27 

a path shall have been prepared for it by the light- 
nings of eternal justice. Let the evangelist, therefore, 
set forth this doctrine as he finds it in the oracles of 
God. He will indeed find it so admirably coherent 
with a sound philosophy that he may in very intelli- 
gent communities be tempted to handle it philosophi- 
cally ; but let him stoutly resist this temptation. In 
like manner, let him withstand every temptation to 
touch upon such speculative questions about the future 
state as some German theologians venture to discuss. 
It speaks volumes against their bold conjectures that 
the church of which they are members is forsaken by 
the masses of the German people, and that almost all 
the Lutheran parishes are candidly considered as 
proper missionary fields for American Methodists and 
Baptists. " Christian consciousness" as an oracle is 
deserting those who trusted in its guidance ; " thy 
calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off." 

Still preach future punishment, but preach it in love 
for the people. In looking at the proofs of this Script- 
ure doctrine, we should say, " I believe, therefore I 
speak," and in diligently regarding the people we 
ought to remember the counsel of the apostle, when 
he bids us speak the truth in love ; but this precious 
precept should be laid to heart by all winners of souls, 
both in revivals and out of them ; as well in the pulpit 
as out of the same. Says the late Dr.Tholuck (and 
some good things, it may be confessed, do still come 
out of Germany), " A person who had been all over 
the world, once told me that he had scarcely ever 
fallen into the company of travellers with whom he was 
not able to converse pleasantly, and, as he hoped, 
with lasting effect, about the journey to the heavenly 
country. I expressed my repugnance to talk purposely 



28 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

commenced with a view to convert, and spoke of the 
danger of forestalling instead of following in the foot- 
steps of the Holy Spirit, of the snare of pride, and 
more of the same sort. He meekly answered : '_I 
endeavored never to speak until I was certain that I 
loved. I figured to myself, what we too often forget, 
that we men are all brothers to one another, and all 
belong to the same Father's house, but are so easily 
turned aside from the path that leads to it. I thought 
of the words of Gellert : 

" ' Perchance in heaven one day to me 

Some blessed saint will come and say, 

All hail ! beloved, but for thee 

My soul to death had fallen a prey. 

And oh, what rapture in the thought ! 

One soul to glory to have brought/ 

" ' This never failed to soften and warm my heart ; 
and when there was love in mine, I soon found a bridge 
into that of the stranger. It w r as as if the breath of 
God had drawn out a thread from the one and fastened 
it to the other.' This narrative I have never been 
able to forget." Solidity and depth of conviction 
may make us fiercely and destructively earnest, unless 
it be moderated by compassion for the people. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE STYLE MOST SUITABLE FOR REVIVAL PREACHING. 

The qualities of this style— Effects of style — Clearness the first requi- 
site — Wesley, Nettleton, Finney, and Moody — Example of brev- 
ity from Arnot — The excessive use of climaxes — Sermons hastily 
prepared — The word " professor." 

Style stands next to matter, although an appear- 
ance of art and finish in such addresses has no proper 
place. By style we do not here intend mere diction, 
or even words, phrases, sentences, and discourses, 
which meet the requirements of our school rhetorics. 
We include in our notion of style these excellences of 
expression which have their source in the inspiration 
of the Spirit, the best peculiarities of the preacher, and 
a careful study of the matter of the sermon. The best 
revival style is simple, sincere, earnest, and tender, 
in order that it may give appropriate voice to the 
thoughts, feelings, and purposes of the true evangelist. 
The style of a revival sermon is like a tree which is 
known not by its blossoms, but by its fruit. It shows 
internal evidence of its acceptance and success. A 
pastor once desired to know the effect of repeating to 
his people one of Jonathan Edwards's revival sermons. 
The effect was instant and powerful. Another pastor 
made a similar experiment with one of the sermons of 
Richard Baxter, after a few changes to modernize the 
style. He had given previous notice of his intention 
confidentially to a few friends, in order that the general 
effect might not be diminished by the novelty of the 



$o REVIVAL SERVICE. 

proceeding. In this instance also the sermon was 
followed by signs of the Lord's returning presence. 
There were, says Mr. Finney, two young ministers, 
who began to preach at the same time. One of them 
had great success in converting sinners, the other 
none. Meeting one day, the latter inquired of the 
other what was the reason of this difference. ' Why, 
replied the other, " the reason is this, that I aim at a 
different end. My object is to convert sinners ; but 
you aim at no such thing. Here ; take one of my 
sermons and preach it to your people, and see what 
the effect will be." The man preached the sermon, 
and it did produce effect. He was frightened when 
sinners began to weep, and when one came to him 
after meeting, and asked him what he should do, the 
minister apologized to him, and said, " I did not aim 
to wound you ; I am sorry I have hurt your feelings." 
Let us not be understood as saying that either revival 
subject-matter or revival style, or both most wisely 
combined, can ever of themselves be sufficient to 
secure a gracious visitation of the Spirit. Neither 
was the Word without the Spirit, nor the Spirit with- 
out the Word, in most of the revivals that have hither 
to blessed the Church and the world. True it is that 
we cannot always trace every conversion to a particu- 
lar text, or even to any portion of Scripture. Indeed 
there exists some testimony to confirm the opinion 
that the works of creation and Providence have been 
consecrated as means to the awakening, if not the 
conversion, of men. However, these cases must be 
regarded as exceptional. Calamities, public and 
private, have occasioned such a seriousness and ten- 
derness of heart as have many a time prepared the 
people for a special work of grace. But if they come 



STYLE MOST SUITABLE FOR REVIVALS. 3 1 

while the work is in progress, they are often found 
antagonistic to the advancement of convicting and 
converting grace. Mr. Nettleton somewhere tells us 
that the sudden death of a rich man and his great 
funeral so distracted the attention of a community 
in which a revival was going fonvard that it brought 
the work to a speedy and deplorable end. 

But to return. Here we may raise the question, 
What are the distinctive qualities of the style of the 
best revival sermons ? In answer, we must say that 
the one essential requisite is clearness. In respect of 
this excellence all the great revivalists and reformers 
are as one, while in most other qualities they are 
dissimilar. Neither Wesley nor Edwards, neither 
Nettleton nor Moody could be said to be very earnest 
in style. Indeed Wesley was called by Robert Hall 
"the quiescence of turbulence," because, while his 
manner was so calm, it yet seemed to produce commo- 
tion all around him. The same might be said of Mr. 
Finney and Mr. Spurgeon. W T e must, therefore, dis- 
tinguish here between what is desirable and what is 
necessary. Revival preaching, as to style, matter, and 
spirit, has been forcibly described by the Rev. Dr. 
Kirk as "enlightening, thought-quickening, heart- 
searching, heart-quickening, conscience-quickening, 
and conscience-guiding." To which we may add 
peace-giving and joy-proclaiming. In treating of 
mere style, he speaks of a certain moderation as 
peculiar to its highest forms. "It is," says he, 
" marked by solemnity, tempered by cheerfulness ; 
reverence modified by childlike familiarity ; awfulness 
by tenderness ; profoundness by simplicity ; respect- 
fulness by directness ; self-possession by earnestness." 

Even sketches of revival sermons will, in many 



32 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

cases, be characterized by the same brevity as the 
general composition. They abound in " catch-words," 
as the lawyers would call them. A happy instance 
of this kind may be found among the sermons of the 
late Rev. William Arnot, of Scotland. The title is, 
" Who Knocks ?" (Rev. 3 : 20). The heads are : 1. Who 
stands? 2. How near He comes. 3. How far off he 
is kept. 4. He knocks for entrance. 5. How many 
things hinder the hearing. 6. Hear and open. 7. I 
will come in. True it is, however, that every subject 
will not admit of such brief indications of the frame- 
work of a sermon. 

Above all the things that belong to the evangelistic 
style, the most popular is naturalness. Every great 
revivalist knows this, and therefore he is content to 
retain many faults, lest in the attempt to remove 
them he shall seem to diminish his individuality. It 
is a mistake, however, to think that in order to be 
natural we must needs be vulgar or singular or eccen- 
tric. But still either of these, or all of them combined, 
will even be more popular (and so far more useful) than 
the highest display of manifest art. In proof of this 
we have only to adduce Messrs. Moody and Sankey, 
or rather an English clergyman* who witnessed their 
success in Great Britain. " While," says he, " mighty 
masters of music and poetry are studying all the laws 
of art and threading the myriad mazes of harmony, 
while bishops and deans, archdeacons and canons, are 
elaborately endeavoring to consolidate or adorn the 
edifice of Christianity, behold a common, uncultured, 
kindly, nasal man, with a single singer of affecting 

* " A Pocket of Pebbles," by the Rev. William Philpot, vicar ? 
etc., p. 94 (London, 1877). 



STYLE MOST SUITABLE TOR REVIVALS. S3 

doggerel, steps on our shores and becomes the channel 
of infusing into our English society a new flood of 
spiritual life, of which princesses and legislators and 
ministers, both of State and Church, press to drink." 

To all such as would study good specimens of the 
natural, we commend those sermons of Whitefield 
which were taken down in short-hand. These like- 
wise contain the best examples of his eloquence — 
examples which are deplorably scarce in modern 
editions of his sermons. Dr. Dry-as-dust has done 
Whitefield great damage. 

Successful revivalists do not often utter the climax, 
and never except when it comes unbidden. Why ? 
Because this figure, in its modern form, is very apt to 
lift our thoughts above the matter in hand, without 
raising them to God. It is natural for some men of 
genius to close every paragraph and every subdivision 
with a mid air explosion of a casket of gems. Others, 
of more moderate abilities, uniformly indulge in the 
same figure, with less brilliant effect. When Robert 
Hall was once asked how he liked a preacher of the 
last description, he replied, " Not at all, sir ; not at all. 
Why, sir, he puts me in mind of a little sweep boy, 
running up a succession of parallel chimneys, and at 
the top of each crying, Sweep ! sweep !" In his later 
years Whitefield formed the habit (the ripened fruit of 
his devotional spirit) of ending some of his divisions 
with a few fitting words of earnest prayer. But he 
never allowed this habit to degenerate into formality. 

The deepening conviction that sermons which have 
cost but little study have been instrumental in doing 
much good has led some evangelists to neglect style, 
and even method. Such men may learn a lesson from 
the example of Edward Payson. A sermon of his, 



34 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

which he thought little of, and wrote almost entirely 
at one sitting, was one of the most effectual that he 
ever preached. " I could not but wonder," says he, 
" to see God work by it." And yet facts like these 
never tempted him to be negligent in his preparations 
for the pulpit. The very least that the evangelist 
ought to do is to be ever adding to his matter and 
revising his sketches or memoranda. 

Yet, over and over again, have we to caution our- 
selves against the delusion that those revival addresses 
which have cost us little study cannot be of much 
service. Every evangelist of experience can recall 
sermons which rebuke such a delusion. Many of the 
most successful sermons of a revivalist are intended 
to meet crises and emergencies. To bring them to the 
test of the homiletics, falsely so called, now commonly 
taught in our seminaries, would be impertinent and 
unjust. Take a specimen from a recent lecture on 
preaching. There is a text which reads, " They all with 
one accord began to make excuse." " Shall a man 
begin to consider the different kinds of excuses ? Of 
such sermons as that you can make a dozen before 
breakfast." In spite of such disdainful remarks, 
almost all the most successful revivalists have in well- 
studied sermons considered the different kinds of 
excuses ; they have found them equally necessary and 
useful ; we also venture to say that not one of them 
could have been made before breakfast. Another of 
these venerable professors has no patience with the 
use of the word professor, in the sense of one who 
makes a public declaration of his belief in Christ, or 
in the Christian religion. The unwary student w^ould 
infer from his remarks that the word is not good 
English when so employed, whereas its use is author- 



STYLE MOST SUITABLE FOR REVIVALS. 35 

ized by our English Bible, and by the best writers from 
the days of Bacon and Hammond until now. It ex- 
presses a vital distinction ; we have no other to put 
in its place ; the common people understand it ; and 
evangelists, one and all, would regret to discover any 
evidence that it is growing obsolete.* 

* In a hand-book like this, the subject of the style which is most 
serviceable in revival preaching cannot be discussed with due discrim- 
ination and thoroughness. The young preacher, so far from indulg- 
ing the notion that it is a matter of small importance, should read 
every book that promises to give him a single new ray of light on the 
subject. Among other works on preaching the writer will perhaps be 
pardoned for referring to pp. 381-523 of his "System of Christian 
Rhetoric," where the subject of the oratorical style is discussed with 
fulness. This volume also attempts to show the relation of style to 
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Some learned critics have ignored 
the fact that this work is professedly a system of homiletics, while two 
distinguished professors (having perhaps failed to read the first five 
pages of the book, or forgotten what they had read of it) have taught 
that we make the prophetic and apostolic preachers of Scripture our 
exclusive models, whereas we consider the prophetic matter of the 
Bible as the only authoritative basis of homiletics, and build on that 
foundation post apostolical materials of similar kind, including a large 
quantity of general rhetoric. The volume is divided into four books : 
I. Inspiration ; II. Invention ; III. Style ; IV. Delivery. Buffon 
held that " style is of the man ;" we take higher ground, and maintain 
that a good homiletical style is of the Holy Ghost, first inspiring the 
man and then assisting him in the study of his subject. It is incon- 
testably true that the evangelist who would really improve his style 
must relegate and reduce it to the third place in his consideration. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF TIMING TEXTS AND SUBJECTS. 

Need of discrimination— General and special subjects — Example from 
Nettleton of the well-timed and the ill-timed — Whitefield's prac- 
tice in varying parts of his plans — Great sermons often less effec- 
tive than small ones — Danger of being too nice. 

ASIDE from the general question, What are the 
best subjects for a series of revival sermons? there is 
this more special one, Is it worth while nicely to 
study adaptation to the ever-changing phenomena of 
a genuine work of reviving grace ? To this question 
every true evangelist will make but one emphatic 
reply. Not more important is it for the farmer to 
observe the proper time to harvest the different 
products of his land, than, for the evangelist to consider 
when to address the careless, the ignorant, the scepti- 
cal, the anxious, the despairing, the backslidden, and 
all the other characters that are the subjects of the 
grace and truth of the Gospel ; when to appeal to the 
young, the mature, the aged ; when to reach out after 
intellect, or conscience, or heart ; when to improve 
the providence of the Spirit as indicated in times, 
seasons, calamities, and other striking events, as well 
as in the various forms of opposition that pass in array 
before the public operations of the Spirit. 

A subject may be excellently suitable for revival 
work in general and yet totally fail to be efficacious, 
because it was not tuneful or opportune. Let us 
illustrate this by a single example. In the winter of 



TIMING TEXTS 'AND SUBJECTS. 37 

1 82 1 Mr. Nettleton preached one evening at Farming- 
ton, Connecticut, from Gen. 6 : 3. Fifty subsequently 
dated from that evening their first decided purpose to 
seek salvation. The same sermon was preached on the 
following week to two other large and solemn assem- 
blies in adjoining parishes, with no special effect that 
could afterward be traced. The pastor, the Rev. Dr. 
Noah Porter, accounts for the difference in this way : 
' The fact probably was that here it convinced numbers 
that the Spirit was already striving with them, and 
that then was their day. ' A word spoken in due sea- 
son, how good is It ! 

The revivalist has often to study not only what 
themes, but even what propositions, divisions and sub- 
divisions, are most fitted for the next opportunity. The 
common opinion is that the evangelist possesses a cer- 
tain number of sermons, which he repeats verbatim in 
every field of labor. None but a novice would do this 
or believe that others could do it. One who made 
Whitefield's preaching a study says : " We have some 
reason to believe that his ordinary practice was to 
adhere to a common outline, which had been prepared, 
but to fill it up variously in different places, as his own 
feelings and sense of duty prompted. It was in this 
way that he secured regularity in his general methods 
and trains of reasoning, and yet gave all the freshness 
of originality, and all the directness of immediate 
appeal to his addresses. Nearly all the evangelists 
that have had the largest experience and the most uni- 
form success have, earlier or later, learned the same 
lesson, and fallen into the same mode of preparation. 

Early, therefore, were they compelled to lay aside 
any ambition they may have had to compose sermons 
that were, intellectually considered, either graceful or 



38 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

grand. The daily returning necessity of being timely, 
at short notice and at all hazards, has shut out all at- 
tempts at being either profound or sublime, subtle or 
splendid. 

But how can this be obtained ? Much daily 
communion with God and with souls will enable one 
to decide most doubtful cases. The young evan- 
gelist is liable to decide what is the proper subject for 
the next occasion from insufficient evidence. Some 
very striking case which he has found in visiting or 
in the inquiry meeting, or late in the day, in a manner 
that seems to him providential, or is fresh in his 
memory or heart, determines his choice at a time, 
perhaps, when he should have reached his conclusion 
from a more general survey of the whole field, or from 
a retrospect of the work from its outset. The veteran 
revivalist, on the other hand, knowing, as he only can, 
the importance of timeliness, may be in danger of an 
anxiety that leads to doubt and hesitation ; so that 
he may be squandering his precious time in searching 
for a subject which he should have improved in prayer 
and study. He, too, equally with his younger brother, 
is in danger of making more of passing phenomena 
than of the surer proofs of seed-time and harvest : 
" He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he 
that regardeth the clouds shall not reap" (Eccles. 
ii : 4). Here prayer affords the best light. The fisher 
of men will always see further on his knees than on 
tip-toe. 

The oldest and most skilful evangelists are often 
taught by results that the Divine Spirit is wiser than 
they. For He uses the very sermons from which they 
hoped nothing as instruments of converting many 
souls, and the sermons which they addressed to one 



TIMING TEXTS AND SUBJECTS. 39 

class He makes the power of God to the opposite 
class. When the people are deeply moved by the 
Holy Spirit they will apply to themselves almost 
every subject, but before they are awakened they are 
much inclined to set their reason and pride against the 
preacher's arguments and appeals, especially if these 
are intended for them. The drowning man is not nice 
in his choice of a plank or spar, while the man who 
is safe on the shore, waiting for a passage, will perhaps 
wait weeks or months for a favorite steamer or a desir- 
able state-room, or else, unable to satisfy himself, he 
will finally abandon all thoughts of a voyage. 



CHAPTER VI. 

CAN THERE BE TOO MUCH PREACHING IN A REVIVAL? 

The question answered — May be too much of some kinds — May be 
out of proportion to other means of grace — Too much in one 
strain — Not to make ourselves the standards— Frequency of ser- 
mons in the revival at East Hampton — Does emotional preaching 
create a disrelish for the Bible ? — Coaxing and auctioneering — 
The Salvation Army. 

It is sometimes asserted, rather roundly, that a 
revival may be checked and even brought to an end by 
an excess of preaching. Here we ought to discrimi- 
nate. 

i. A people long accustomed to the pastor's preach- 
ing may, when revived, be laid to sleep again, if he 
continue to preach in his former way, or invite neigh- 
boring pastors to preach for the church in their usual 
manner. 

2. The evangelist may often solemnly ask himself, in 
the midst of a revival, whether the amount of preach- 
ing is not too large in comparison of the amount of 
prayer or praise, short public invitations or personal 
interviews. 

3. Whenever the evangelist finds out that the church 
or pastor is reposing too much confidence in his preach- 
ing, it may well be considered whether it were not 
safer for himself and all concerned, for him to leave 
the field, unless he can lead them back to more faith 
and hope in the Lord of the harvest. 

4. There may be too much preaching on particular 
subjects, to the exclusion of others more timely or 



CAN THERE BE TOO MUCH PREACHING? 41 

better adapted to contradict the false doctrines or 
practical errors that are current among the people. 
There is a time for the plough, a time for the sower, 
a time for the harrow, a time for the mawkin, a time 
for the reaper, and a time for the wagon that is to carry 
the sheaves from the field. 

5. There may be too much of certain kinds of feeling 
and tone. Where the Spirit is really at work awaken- 
ing, alarming, enlightening, regenerating, etc., there 
will be a remarkable timeliness, freedom, and variety 
of thought, feeling, address, means, and measures. 

6. If revivals may be preached to death, so they 
may be sung to death ; but I have never heard of one 
being prayed to death, especially where the prayers 
included praise and thanksgiving. 

7. However, in judging whether any means of grace 
are in excess or not, we should beware of making our 
own experiences the standard. An advanced and tried 
disciple may not need so much preaching on his own 
account, as the ignorant and the stupid. But still 
there are many zealous and self-conceited persons, 
who fancy that their own exhortations will be more 
blessed than calmer and more scriptural sermons. 
They judge too much by their own likings and dislik- 
ings. Even the most skilful, vigilant, and prudent 
pastor may also give way to his prejudices, and consult 
too little the mental, social, and moral state of the 
young people. He is not to take it for granted that 
the present generation is every way like the past. 
Much allowance, too, must be made for exceptional 
cases. At any rate, he should exercise toward them 
much forbearance and indulgence. 

8. The question of the amount of preaching can 
now and then be settled by experiment. The Rev. Dr. 



42 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Buell found at East Hampton, in 1764, that frequent 
preaching appeared to increase the number of converts. 
So deeply was he impressed with the fact that he 
longed for the speedy fulfilment of the prophecy (Isa. 
62 : 6) when the "watchmen shall never hold their 
peace, day nor night." 

9. It is the opinion of a learned professor in one of 
our theological seminaries that emotional preaching, 
aiming always at the hearts and consciences of the 
people, serves to create an aversion and disgust tow- 
ard the Scriptures. Whatever may be the cause of 
this dislike, the true evangelist will do nothing to 
foster it. 

The young evangelist who has been invited to assist 
a pastor, or to follow another evangelist, should at the 
outset ascertain what texts and subjects have already 
been handled, in order that he may avoid them and 
take up new themes. In this way will he prevent 
revival preaching from being distasteful and unprofit- 
able to some of that class of zealous laborers who 
would dispense with all sermons in times of deep relig- 
ious interest. 

It may be well here to distinguish between revivals 
and ingatherings. By the latter we mean seasons 
in which many who were converted under the ordinary 
means of grace, or in former revivals, are persuaded to 
become members of churches. While great numbers 
are thus making a public profession, the actual conver- 
sions may possibly be as few as in the more quiet days. 
Whenever there is a movement of this kind, then we 
do not so much teach as exposulate and exhort. Then 
the peculiar methods of such a helper as the late 
" Uncle" John Vassar are found acceptable and effec- 
tive. But Satan, it is to be feared, often takes advan- 



CAN THERE BE TOO MUCH PREACHING? 43 

tage of the excitement that attends these ingatherings, 
to deceive many with a false hope, and so destroy 
them, and trouble the churches which have received 
them. Were the excitement confined to such as have 
an intellectual knowledge of the way of salvation, fewer 
would be persuaded to make a false profession. 

In ignorant communities preaching should never be 
allowed to sink into mere coaxing, and exhortation to 
degenerate into auctioneering. Among such the most 
experienced evangelists and the best educated pastors 
are needed. As the atonement is sufficient for all, and 
is to be offered to all, it is but reasonable to suppose 
that the Divine Spirit will employ such men as are able 
to teach it to all, and that He will operate by such 
means as have always and everywhere been found 
efficient. If it is not so, then the Lord is very partial 
to those parts of Christendom to which these coaxers 
are sent, and we ought by all means to raise the cry, 
" Lo ! here, lo ! there." But certain it is, that the 
wisdom that is from above is justified of her children. 
Those who are converted to a sensation will fall away 
when the sensation has departed, but those who in- 
telligently and deliberately accept the invitations of 
Christ will choose Him as their Master and pattern. 
They will obey Him, they will strive for Him, and, if 
need be, will suffer in His service. Did these coaxers 
really preach the Gospel, even though they were an- 
imated by bad motives in so doing, we might still re 
joice ; but as they ignore the Gospel, what remains to 
us but lamentation, prayer, and hope against hope ? * 

* The Methodist Episcopal Church has in probation and the class- 
meeting safeguards against these evils— evils which have long assail- 
ed the purity, peace, and unity of Congregational and Independent 
churches. 



44 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

We do well, however, to remember that there is a di- 
versity of gifts and of operations, as there is of conjunc- 
tures and emergencies. Some men evince singular skill 
in special departments of Christian service. Nor should 
we despise it because it may appear to us too much 
occupied with the merely human, external, and even 
secular sides of the Divine Kingdom. Thus Mr. 
Kimball has manifested very remarkable address and 
tact in persuading congregations to remove mortgages 
from church edifices, and Mr. Harrison has acquired 
uncommon skill in the art and mystery of moving 
young persons to demonstrate publicly their willing- 
ness to enter inquiry meetings and join classes. Others 
have an aptitude for processions. Colonel Booth and 
his friends of the " Salvation Army" have drawn into 
the wake of their military movements throngs of rude 
boys and dissolute men and women, w T ho were not in- 
fluenced by any existing organizations of Christians. 
The history of religious precessions is a part of the 
history of Romanism, and is replete with warnings 
which will ever be heeded by all true Protestants. 
To construe language literally which was intended 
to be understood figuratively, is one of the judicial 
follies of Antichrist. It is therefore a bad sign that 
the " Salvation Army" should reduce and debase the 
military images of Scripture to the actual rank and file 
of Falstaff's ragged regiment." 

* As for " the Salvation Army," the best authorities are divided. 
Some hold that this organization has no support from the history of 
the primitive churches, that it outrages decency and order, follows 
the Pharisees in its proselytism, makes no provision for church-mem- 
bership, and that it imitates the Jesuits by cultivating a military spirit 
and by centring all authority in one man. Others maintain that it is 
reforming a class which no other instrumentalities can reach, is edu- 



CAN THERE BE TOO MUCH PREACHING ? 45 

Among a carefully instructed people revival preach- 
ing should not aim so much at growth in knowledge 
as at immediate practice. The danger ever is, how- 
ever, in setting too high an estimate on the amount of 
Christian knowledge possessed by any church, congre- 
gation, or community. And then there may be much 
Scripture knowledge, while there is a deplorable igno- 
rance of all that relates to the progress of the Kingdom 
of Christ as revealed in the New Testament, and as 
illustrated by the missionary and evangelistic opera- 
tions of Christians in all lands, in the past as well as in 
the present. 

One clear and reasonable demand for very frequent 
preaching in a time of general awakening is when 
ignorant and fanatical agitators are busy around about 
us, misleading the young and the unwary. At such a 
time the true Gospel may need a reaffirmance and 
defence, while repeated persuasives will perhaps be 
advisable in order to gather the lambs of the holy flock 
into the fold of God. 

For the rest, we may hope to find the bold preach- 
ing of the doctrines of grace of essential service as a 
test of the reality of many a professed conversion. One 
young man disputed with his teacher concerning the 
truth of a Christian doctrine until he was convinced 
that the trouble was in himself ; and an intelligent 
lady for a considerable time avowed her inability to 

eating the reformed for Christian work, chiefly confines its demonstra- 
tions to places hitherto the scenes of brawls and riots, and though our 
sense of decorum may at first be disturbed, we soon lose our aversion 
in an all-absorbing compassion for the perishing. Hence they say 
these people are doing a good work in a rough way ; let us forbear to 
disturb them. Or they say, " Wait : by their fruits we shall know 
them." 



46 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

believe a particular doctrine. Ultimately, however, she 
found that the difficulty was that she was unwilling 
that God should be God. The words of the Spirit will 
ever be welcome to the works of the Spirit. 



CHAPTER VII. 

SERVICES FOR READINGS AND EXPOSITIONS. 

When and where useful — What portions of Scripture most appropriate 
— Should have a practical aim — Revivals resulting from readings 
— The practice of Moody, Morehouse, Whittle, and Needham — 
Readings in the place of arguments— Whittle's advice — Avoid 
one-sidedness. 

EXERCISES of this kind are chiefly useful to the 
Church, and especially to winners of souls, at mid-day 
or afternoon meetings. They will be found to enlist 
the deepest interest in educated communities, where 
it has been long neglected, provided only that they 
have the leisure to attend them ; and these people 
will be most profited by them while the work of con- 
version is going forward with the greatest activity. 
For the preacher and the Christian workers, coming 
fresh from their evangelistic labors, now find new 
meanings, illustrations, and applications in familiar 
passages. While they are building the tabernacle, the 
various parts of the pattern shown on the mount will 
become better known to them. 

Suitable portions of Scripture to occupy attention in 
the earlier stages of a revival will be found in the 
character of Noah as a preacher of righteousness ; 
in the glimpses given of the awakening in the days of 
Enoch, when men began to call upon the name of the 
Lord ; the general reformation recorded in the last 
chapter of Joshua ; the revival in the time of the 
Judges, when Israel "cried unto the Lord," and he 
raised up Deborah and Barak to rescue them from 



4 S REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Jabin and Sisera ; the awakening in the days of 
Samuel, when " Israel lamented after the Lord," and 
He thundered upon the Philistines and discomfited 
them ; the contest of Elijah with the prophets of Baal 
and his triumph on behalf of the Lord ; the revival at 
Nineveh under the preaching of Jonah ; the reforma- 
tions in the reigns of Hezekiah and Josiah; the awaken- 
ing in the time of Ezra ; the great preparatory move- 
ment led by John the Baptist ; the ingatherings during 
the days of the Lord Jesus, and the several revivals 
recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The reading of 
these and other Scripture histories ought to convince 
the people that revivals are not of modern date, much 
less of human invention. 

Another good series of subjects for reading and 
exposition may be found in the Scripture accounts of 
prayers offered and answered, and in instances of the 
works of faith and labors of love. Readings and 
expositions of the historical and biographical parts of 
the Bible will ever be the most effectual. But edifica- 
tion will sometimes be promoted by taking up some 
important theme of doctrine and commenting on the 
most significant texts which teach or apply it. 
Especially ought we to explain the doctrines of grace 
and the attributes of the triune God in relation to 
each of them. However, these explanations should 
all along and finally suggest practical lessons and 
appeals. 

Not less worthy of mention are the reading and 
explaining of those parts of Scripture which serve to 
train the members of the Church for the immediate 
winning of souls, and for such other work as may 
promise to advance the Church in a career of perma- 
nent usefulness. Revivalists can, in the way of exposi- 



READINGS AND EXPOSITIONS. 49 

tion, lightly yet effectually touch upon misdoings and 
shortcomings, which could not be profitably handled 
in a more formal way. 

More than one revival is said to have grown out of 
Bible readings. Among the most successful readers 
are Messrs. Moody, Morehouse, Whittle, and Need- 
ham. Mr. Moody usually only reads the Bible topi- 
cally, only reading here and there texts on certain 
subjects. His readings on the blood of Christ, the 
Holy Spirit and assurance, have been notably com- 
mended and blessed. 

These readings have sometimes been of service in in- 
quiry meetings. Mr. Whittle begins his inquiry meet- 
ings with an exercise of this description. After an 
opening prayer he presents three distinct points for 
the consideration of inquirers : 

First, That Christ came to save guilty and condemned 
sinners. He proves this point from the Bible, and 
then asks all who accept the doctrine to signify it by 
holding up their right hand. 

Secondly, That all in the room who are thus guilty 
and condemned need a Saviour. Then Scripture pas- 
sages in proof of this point are read, and all who 
assent to this are asked to signify their assent as 
before. 

Thirdly, That we should renounce our sins and 
accept Christ as our Saviour. These duties are 
proved to be such from Scripture, and affectionately 
urged upon the heart and consciences of inquirers. 
All who can assent to these final lecturings are again 
requested to hold up their hands. Mr." Whittle then 
proceeds to the work which usually occupies meetings 
of this kind. 

The apt quotation of Scripture in this way may also 



50 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

be of great advantage in silencing debaters and gain- 
sayers. In general, it is wisest for all, especially lay- 
men, in times of revival to waive all mere argumenta- 
tion. We may here instance a sceptic who had 
warded off all exhortations to repentance and all invi- 
tations to Christ, by raising objections or making 
cynical remarks. At length the leader of an inquiry 
meeting introduced him to a Christian woman. His 
first remark was, " So you have come to interview 
me." The reply was, " No, I do not know enough 
for that. Let us both interview the Bible, and see 
what we can learn." Somewhat disarmed by this 
reply, his tone changed, and he said he was very will- 
ing to have a conversation. But his old habit return- 
ing upon him, he propounded one after another of 
the intellectual difficulties in his way. The lady met 
each one by saying, " I cannot answer you. I cannot 
pretend to do so. But let us see what the r Bible says 
about it. ' ' And then opening the Bible she would read 
such passages as gave a divine answer to each question. 
In this way he was driven back by the sword of the 
Spirit from point to point, until, forced to give up 
the struggle, he sprang to his feet saying, 4 ' This 
question must be settled to-night. Pray for me." 
Eventually he was converted, not as the result of 
reasoning, but of a judicious use of divine truth. 

One caution given by Mr. Whittle to the young 
Bible reader is of considerable value, more especially 
as it is justified by his own early experience. It is 
this : "Be careful not to make the readings too long. 
Better it is to divide your topic into four or six read- 
ings, and so bring out the Scripture upon each head to 
your own satisfaction, than to crowd too many topics 
into one reading. My first Bible reading on faith con- 



READINGS AND EXPOSITIONS. 51 

tained some sixty Scripture references. Before they 
were all read the audience grew tired. The same Bible 
reading for one meeting has now developed into seven 
for as many successive meetings.* 

Evangelists are apt to run to the same extremes in 
their readings as in their sermons — that is to say, they 
are tempted to apply every passage with exclusive ref- 
erence to revival aims and interests. To regard texts 
with more breadth of view would be more instructive 
to believers, without being less telling upon the hearts 
and consciences of unbelievers. Some of the current 
Scripture readings are so one-sided as to be really in- 
culcations of error. 

* Much excellent advice on this subject may be found in " Hand- 
Book of Bible Readings," by H. B. Chamberlain ; " Hints on Bible 
Readings," by the Rev. J. C. Hill ; " Notes and Suggestions for 
Bible Readings," by Messrs. Briggs and Eliott. Specimens of Mr. 
Moody's Bible readings may be found in the volume " To All Peo- 
ple," pp. 191-477. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

REVIVAL HYMNS AND SINGING. 

The minstrel accompanied the Prophet— The rage for novelty — Sacred 
songs very furthersome — Hymns as means of grace — Testimony of 
Nettleton and Parker — The abuse of church music — The necessity 
of choiceness — Advice of Finney and Fish — An occasional sub- 
stitute for singing recommended. 

The singing of psalms and other sacred songs ought 
to be considered as a part of the proper ministry of 
the Word. We do not say that it is a necessary part. 
But it is important, as appears from the fact that it is 
authorized by the example of the Hebrew prophets, 
the preachers of their time, whose utterances were 
often preceded or followed by minstrelsy. The 
address of Habakkuk, as it has come down to us, is 
followed by a psalm of the sublimest description. In- 
deed, the singing of holy songs, accompanied by the 
harp or some other " instrument of God," came at 
length to be called prophesying, and the singers and 
players prophets or prophetesses. 

The most scommon objection, perhaps, to revival 
singing in our day is that it feeds the rage for novelty 
at the expense of permanent edification and of good 
old hymns and music which bear the stamp of devout 
genius, and have survived the vicissitudes of a century 
or more. And yet it will not do to refuse a hymn or 
tune merely for the reason that it is new. Such a 
reason, if allowed to prevail, would have deprived us 
of the entire Psalter ; for there must have been 
occasions when each of these psalms was sung for 



REVIVAL HYMNS AND SINGING. S3 

the first time. But still it must be admitted that a 
rapid succession of new revival songs of inferior and 
ephemeral quality has come to be rather a hindrance 
than a help to revival service. Even those who 
encourage and patronize it find that, after all, nothing 
is so helpful in their way as the good old hymns and 
tunes which have long been familiar to most of the 
worshippers. No band of singers, however long they 
may have been trained in novelties, can stand a 
moment in comparison of a large audience of the 
common people singing some old hymn to some old 
music, to which it is married for immortality. 

It is, however, a settled question that the revivalist 
finds a companion or two that are skilled in the best 
and newest church music very serviceable and profit- 
able. For many years evangelists or travelling 
missionaries have often been accompanied by these. 
We once knew a revivalist whose sister was a very 
efficient yokefellow in this way. The Rev. Orson 
Parker gratefully acknowledges the fact that his 
daughters Georgiana and Cornelia accompanied him 
on many long campaigns, assisting him with their 
songs and cheering him in his labors. The fellowship 
of Messrs. Moody and Sankey, and its blessed results 
in many cities, need scarcely to be mentioned. 

The relative numbers that have been converted 
through preaching and singing, it would be of much 
importance to determine. Mr. Moody does not, we 
learn, regard Mr. Sankey's sheaves as fewer than his 
own, although it must be remembered that the 
hymns Mr. Sankey sings the most effectually are ser- 
mons in verse and melody. Mr. Parker, who held during 
his long life more than four hundred series of meetings, 
testifies : " I believe that there is as much convic- 



54 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

tion lodged in the mind by singing as by preaching. 
It keeps the people together more than preaching. 
The melody softens the feelings, and the sentiment of 
the hymn leaves its stamp upon the melted heart and 
ripens into fruit." To the students who stood around 
his bed in his last illness, Dr. Nettleton said : * * If I 
have ever been of any use as an instrument of spirit- 
ual good, it has been, to a great extent, through the 
reading of sacred poetry ; where I have had my choice 
of means I have selected it in preference to any other. 

But the vital question is not, Shall we have singing? 
but What kind of singing shall we have ? No singing 
at all is better than heartless and ill-chosen hymns and 
music. When, therefore, we cannot be assured upon 
the point, it is often best to have no singing or playing 
at the close of the sermon. At the outset of a service 
a larger liberty may be permitted, with less damage to 
the final impressions and fruit. 

Mr. Finney was opposed to much singing in revivals, 
on the ground that it is contrary to a spirit of agoniz- 
ing prayer and deep convictions of sin. He admits 
that singing a hymn has sometimes produced a power- 
ful effect on sinners who are convicted ; but this, he 
thinks, is owing to the perfect contrast there is be- 
tween their feelings and those of the happy souls 
who sing. He also holds that a revival is often 
brought to a premature close by the church and 
minister all giving themselves up to singing with 
young converts. "Thus, by stopping to rejoice 
when they ought to feel more and more deeply for 
sinners, they grieve away the Spirit of God, and they 
soon find that their agony and travail of soul are all 
gone. " His advice, therefore, is that the hymns should 
be so selected as to bring out something solemn, and 



REVIVAL HYMNS AND SINGING. 55 

so deepen the feelings of sinners or Christians. This 
agrees with the experience of one who, amidst the revi- 
val at Kilsyth, in Scotland, about the year 1742, tes- 
tified : " When the notes of the congregation began 
to swell in a psalm of confession, I felt as if it would 
have ' hearted' me — as if I must give way altogether." 
There are some hints given by the late Rev. Dr. Fish,* 
who made revival music a subject of a good deal of 
study and experiment. Here are a few of them : 
' There should not be much singing in the begin- 
ning of a revival, because then the meetings are for 
confession and contrition. A melodeon is better than 
an organ, as being closer to the audience and more 
readily handled. As a rule, perhaps, it is better to 
dispense with instrumental music. Use a given hymn 
always with the same tune ; use a book in which the 
hymn and tune are on one page. The connection of 
the hymn should not be broken by interludes or long 
pauses. The verses in any one singing should be few, 
seldom more than two or three. The singing of a 
familiar hymn will often be more spirited if the read- 
ing of it be omitted. Use tunes that are strictly 
congregational in their structure. If new tunes can- 
not be learned, use such as are already familiar. Let 
the sentiment of the hymns, at any given meeting, be 
uniform from beginning to end. Keep to the ' key- 
note' in this respect throughout ; otherwise the mind 
is turned off from the main point of the meeting. Let 
everything tend to the one object of awakening, edify- 
ing, and saving men, and do it heartily as unto the 
Lord." 

We will only add that in case this means of grace 

* " Handbook of Revivals, ' pp. 317 319. 



56 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

is either permanently or temporarily wanting, a good 
substitute may occasionally be found in exercises of 
thanksgiving for instances of backsliders restored, 
doubters obtaining better hopes, or prayers heard in 
behalf of sinners. In order to vary the'exercises and 
obtain a full blessing, requests for thanksgiving may 
be made by the grateful persons, orally or written, and 
sent forward to the leader of the meeting. Read- 
ings from the Psalms would properly accompany this 
service. Such thanksgivings, if blended with adora- 
tion, may answer the purposes of the most solemn 
songs of praise. 



CHAPTER IX. 

TEMPERANCE WORK IN REVIVALS. 

Diversity of opinions about temperance reforms — The Gospel affords 
a common ground for co-operation — The success of Mr. Moody 
and others in Christianizing drunkards — Specialists in temper- 
ance work not always in sympathy with evangelistic laborers — 
Christ the Great Physician of diseased souls. 

EVERY question that has a tendency to provoke dis- 
cussion and division among good Christian people 
should be kept out of revival services, and if admitted 
it should not for a moment be entertained. In spite 
of the general disharmony on temperance, one proposal 
there is, and only one, that can commend itself to the 
sympathy and co-operation of all Christian laborers. 
It is this : to work together for the conversion of 
drunkards and dealers in intoxicating drinks. Here is 
a basis for unison of action, while any departure from 
this basis may divert attention from the proper means 
and objects of revivalistic endeavors, and so disap- 
point all just expectations. 

It should be remembered that even learned men are 
not agreed respecting the nature and effects of the 
wines of the East, and that as the study of Christian 
ethics is more and more neglected from year to year 
in colleges and seminaries, we cannot at present rea- 
sonably expect the common p.eople to obtain clear 
and distinct notions about their duties either to them- 
selves or their neighbors, or the Church or the state 
in respect of temperance. Be it remembered, too, 
that various temperance lecturers, religious, political, 



58 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

and infidel, have, by their activity and push, dissemi- 
nated a great variety of opinions on the subject. The 
proposal here recommended is " non-committal" on all 
points in controversy, but is most pronounced as re- 
gards the one question of salvation. 

This plan, we scarcely need to say, is to-day exempli- 
fied by several evangelists, and in particular by Mr. 
Moody, who has been instrumental in the conversion 
of a great number of drunkards in America, England, 
Ireland, and Scotland. Nor does he despair of bring- 
ing to the Saviour the hardest cases. In answer to one 
who had said he did not think there was any hope for 
a woman that had been addicted to strong drink, and 
to another who had said he did not think there was any 
hope for a confirmed drunkard, he used the following 
language : " When I look upon the drunkard and 
think of the pledges he has broken, I might say they 
are right, but when I read, ' All power is given to Me,' 
I rejoice to say there is hope for every drunkard on 
earth. Our God has power to save. I would say 
to these persons, I would not give a farthing for good 
resolutions. You must be born again. It is not a 
reformation, but a new creation you need. You will 
then hate strong drink as much as you now love it. 
Thank the Lord, who is stronger than your appetite 
for strong; drink. He is mighty to save ; we want to 
come boldly to God to ask Him to save the poor 
drunkard. ' ' More recently he has declared that he has 
more confidence than ever before in the power of di- 
vine grace to regenerate the most confirmed drunkard. 

His method with the intemperate is to expound the 
Scriptures to them, and to pray for them. His 
addresses on Daniel have also proved very useful in 
reclaiming inebriates. He delivers no " lectures" on 



TEMPERANCE WORK IN REVIVALS. 59 

the subject, and his fellow-worker, Mr. Sankey, sings 
no strictly " temperance songs," being content with 
such as these: ''Rescue the perishing," 'Take the 
name of Jesus with you," :< Safe in the arms of Jesus," 
" Where is my wandering boy to-night ?" After two 
weeks Mr. Moody begins to hold temperance meetings, 
one afternoon in each week, and at the conclusion of 
his labors in any city he devotes a whole day to the 
cause, when there is commonly a reunion of converted 
drunkards from his former fields of service. 

His practice of devoting certain days to this branch 
of work enables him to check all such as are always 
harping on this single string. " Some temperance 
men," he once observed, " make a great mistake : 
they lug in the question every time they get a chance. 
Everything in its own place.'' 

Not a few of these converted tipplers testify that 
regenerating grace has destroyed in them all craving 
for strong drink. Some of them say that they can pass 
among gin-palaces and barrooms without any fear of 
reviving the old appetite. With the remark of one 
of this class we were once much pleased. " I am," said 
he, " a brand plucked from the fire. As such fuel 
kindles again when brought to the fire much sooner 
than a fresh piece of wood, I consider my danger, and 
carefully avoid temptation."* 

The signing of the pledge is of great service some- 
times, especially when it is the serious and deliberate 
act of a man that is not borne away in a crowd, and 
when it is invested with the solemnity of avow to God. 
The minister should propose prayer as a preliminary. 

" True Path, or Gospel Temperance; Life of Murphy, Reynolds, 
and Others," by Rev. J. S. Vandersloot (Chicago, 1876). 



60 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Without the assistance of the Lord Jesus we can do 
nothing. 

Whenever, during the progress of revival services, a 
professional lecturer on temperance is introduced or 
recommended as a helper, he should not be hastily 
welcomed to share in the work. However high his 
Christian character, he cannot be expected at once to 
know his new surroundings, or bring himself into full 
sympathy with the other workers ; but the chances are 
that he is a novice, or mayhap a fantical adventurer, 
who, if he be allowed any opportunity to lecture in the 
revival meetings, will demand entire control of his time 
and full liberty to employ his own means and measures ; 
while, if this be refused, he will organize a series of 
meetings in opposition, and so draw away thoughtless 
young people into unbelief and immorality. 

The most promising fields for the trustworthy lecturer 
are in communities among which no revivals are in 
progress, and to which he may go as a John the 
Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord. If he do no 
more than enlighten the people respecting the tem- 
poral consequences of tippling, and secure a large 
number of pledges, he may thereby bring about such 
lucid intervals of sobriety as will make it possible for 
many to hearken at least to the Gospel of their salva- 
tion. 

Great patience and an exhaustless compassion will, 
in some instances, be requisite to final success. Among 
the converted tipplers of the revival of 1857 in New 
York, there was one who signed the pledge twenty-five 
times before the grace of regeneration came to his 
rescue. Another inebriate, converted at the same sea- 
son of refreshing, while seeking the divine remedy, said, 



TEMPERANCE WORK IN REVIVALS. 61 

with burning earnestness, " I am in a hurry to be a 
Christian. I must be a Christian to be safe." 

Without professing to suggest what the pastor may 
or may not prudently or lawfully do in the behalf of 
temperance in the regular discharge of his daily duties, 
confident we are that for the evangelist or for the 
pastor in a time of awakening, the Gospel affords the 
best remedy he can employ in every case of drunken- 
ness, however desperate. Indeed, the revivalist could 
not recommend any other without creating the suspi- 
cion that the grace of the Almighty is not sufficient 
for the hardest hearts, and that the one divine meth- 
od of moral renovation is inferior to some means of 
reformation that are merely human, and for this life 
alone. Nor does it demand great faith to accept the 
Gospel method of destroying intemperance. Demon- 
stration here comes to our aid. Facts, figures, and cases 
passing under daily observation evince the matchless 
skill of the Great Physician. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE EVANGELIST IN HIS RELATIONS TO THE 
PRAYER CURE. 

The honesty of the leaders of this movement— Reasons for the revival 
of these primitive gifts — Romanism, Spiritualism, and Materialism 
seem to demand its restoration to the churches — Has the age of 
miracles passed away ?— As a question of probability and of testi- 
mony — The use of oil in connection with prayer— The laying on 
of hands — The primitive elder — A caution given — These gifts not 
bestowed upon all — A churchly rite — Presumption and fanaticism 
to be guarded against— The Rev. Dr. Gordon's judicious advice — 
Bengel's discriminating dictum — Physicians and medicine not to 
be despised — The example of St. Luke, the beloved physician, 
recommended. 

As some evangelists have joined the healing of the 
body to the cure of the soul, and as there is a growing 
belief in the power of prayer to remove sickness, it 
seems necessary that a manual which is designed to 
be intensely practical and working should contain 
some information and suggestions on this living ques- 
tion. We propose to regard it partly in its exegetical 
and historical aspects, but without ignoring it as it 
appears before us to-day. 

It has been the privilege of the present writer to be- 
come acquainted with some of the foremost advocates 
of the " Faith Cure, "and he has found them Christians 
of humility and benevolence, denying themselves for the 
good of others, and superior to ambition and all idola- 
trous covetousness. Their simple purpose is to go forth 
in the light of the New Testament, to give relief to 
their suffering fellow-creatures, with no secret designs 
and no ulterior ends. They are, some of them, 
learned , some of them are of limited intelligence and 



THE PRAYER CURE. 63 

confined views. I have asked myself, therefore, why 
they should have been moved by the Divine Spirit to 
revive the prayer-cure. I may be much mistaken, but 
the conviction deepens that they have been raised up in 
these latter days to counteract the demoniac miracle- 
workers of Romanism and Spiritualism, thus fulfilling 
the prediction, " When the enemy shall come in like a 
flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard 
against him." (Isa. 59 : 19). 

Another purpose which the Holy Ghost probably has 
in reviving His curative power is to silence Material- 
ists. These people loudly and obstinately contend 
that the violation of every law, whether of matter or of 
mind, draws after it a sure and unavoidable penalty. 
They have many analogies in creation and Providence 
to confirm their claim, and, what is worse, they number 
some so called preachers of the Gospel among their 
fellow-doctrinaires. The tendency of this iron phi- 
losophy is to do away with all ideas of an atonement, 
and even of all divine interposition in the affairs of the 
human race. What must ever make the atonement a 
matter of universal interest is the fact that it is a divine 
interference on behalf of the guilty to save them from 
the punishment of their sins. In the time of Christ's 
sojourn among the Jews, the popular belief was that 
all sickness is the consequence of sin, and that the sick 
ought to bear the penalty of their transgressions. The 
Saviour, by healing the sick and raising the dead, shook 
this common superstition to its lowest foundations, and 
so prepared the way for the belief that his atonement 
rescued sinners, not only from temporal but from 
eternal punishment. When, therefore, He healed the 
sick He performed part of His mission as the Lamb of 
God, or atoning sin-bearer. And, accordingly, the heal- 



64 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

ing was sometimes coupled with a declaration of the 
forgiveness of sins (Matt. 9 : 2, 5). In coherence with 
this is the promise in James 5:15. It was only as a 
sacrifice for sin that Jesus could heal physical disease, 
as it is only to his pierced hand that we are entitled to 
look for our daily bread. Hence, we are to put no 
narrow construction on the words of Isaiah, as quoted 
by Matthew 8 : 17 : " Himself took our infirmities and 
bare our sicknesses." Our Saviour bore, among other 
things, in his own body on the tree, the punishment 
due to the violation of the laws of man's physical and 
mental economy. 

If it be objected that no other evidences of the divine 
origin of our religion are demanded than those which 
we find in the New Testament and the history of 
Christianty, we reply that the intellectual and moral 
relation of modern unbelievers, notably in our own 
country, is much the same as was that of the Roman 
Empire to Christ and His apostles in the first century 
of our era. Multitudes are totally indifferent to the 
New Testament, and multitudes more would not read 
the Book unless they were hired to do so. Not a few 
communities among us are essentially heathen as to 
religion, and as to education barbarous ; while millions 
from Europe are swarming over our territories to plant 
colonies, which, unless the grace of God interpose, are 
to reproduce in the New World the superstition and 
shameless brutality of the Old. We cannot, therefore, 
pronounce the revival of the prayer cure as either ill- 
timed or ill-placed. 

Many of us have been taught that the extraordinary 
gifts which were bestowed upon the primitive churches 
passed away with the apostles. This we seriously 
question ; but if it could be demonstrated that they 



THE PR A YER CURE. 65 

did, it would still remain to be proved that it was the 
good pleasure of the Lord Jesus that none of them 
should ever be restored. It is curious to observe into 
what inconsistencies some learned professors fall in 
their attempts to make our heavens brass and our earth 
iron. Thus, they insist that prophesying was confined 
to the primitive Church, and yet they maintain the duty 
of upholding the rule of the analogy of the faith, 
totally regardless of the fact that the apostle applies 
this rule to prophesying alone (Rom. 12 : 6). 

That the prayer of faith should still heal the sick is 
not improbable beforehand or contrary to our reason- 
able expectations. What more potent agency could be 
summoned against disease than the Divine Spirit 
operating on the human frame through the will and 
the intellect? Abundant is the proof that the Holy 
Ghost has often removed forever the drunkard's morbid 
craving for stimulants — a craving that had long baffled 
the physician's utmost skill. Nor are we without 
evidence that regenerating grace has proved friendly 
to bodily health. We know that the mind can influence 
every part of the body it inhabits. What, then, can 
be more demonstrable than that when a divine power 
enters and takes possession of any mind, it is able, 
through it, to operate with marvellous effects on the 
diseases of the body ? 

The testimony of Dorothea Trudel, of Switzerland ; 
of Pastor Blumhardt, in Germany ; of Dr. Cullis, of 
Boston, Massachusetts, and the Rev. Mr. Simpson, of 
New York City, is not to be impeached. Equally 
trustworthy is most of the evidence of those who have 
been healed.* 

*" Prayer and its Remarkable Answers," by Rev. Dr. W. W. 
Patton, chapters xi., xii., and xv. 



66 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

It is an error, we think, to suppose that any Christian 
should wait for a peculiar experience before resorting 
to the prayer of faith. The only incontestable proof 
that one has this gift is an answer to such a prayer. 
We are persuaded, therefore, that Pastor Blumhardt 
was unwise in passing two years in prayers and fastings 
for an assurance that he should lay hands on the sick 
for their restoration. We fail to find in the Epistles 
to the Corinthians, or elsewhere, any intimation that 
any of those who received the gift of healing either 
sought or found any inward witness of their call to this 
ministry, apart from actual experiment. The use of 
oil has not the support of our Saviour's example. Oil 
was indeed very often employed by the Jews, Greeks, 
and Romans as a medicine ; and Meyer is of opinion 
that St. James here mentions the anointing with oil 
only in conformity with the general custom of employ- 
ing it for the refreshing, strengthening, and healing of 
the body. The fact that the anointing was to be done 
" in the name of the Lord" does not demonstrate that 
the act was either a miracle or a sacrament, since ail 
things are to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus 
(Col. 3 : 17). If this be the import of the words, they 
teach us to make use of any common household remedy 
in connection with prayer. 

But as it is "the prayer of faith," and not the 
anointing with oil, that is said to save the sick, some 
authorities suppose that the anointing was considered 
a medium through which healing grace was imparted 
to the sick. This view is also confirmed by the 
example of Christ and His apostles. Our Lord 
anointed the eyes of the blind man with clay (John 
9 :6), and the apostles in the life-time of the Messiah 
anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them 



THE PRA YER CURE. 67 

(Mark 6 : 13). Sometimes, however, no mention is 
made of anointing, but only of the laying on of hands. 
Our Lord laid His hands on the sick (Luke 4 : 40 ; 
13 : 13). He also touched children (Luke 18 : 15), 
probably for the purpose of healing them, as he did 
in other cases (Luke 22 : 51 ; Matt. 8:15). In like 
manner Ananias laid his hands on Saul and restored his 
sight (Acts 9 : 17), and Paul healed the father of 
Publius by the imposition of hands (Acts 28 : 8). 
Indeed, the laying on of hands is mentioned by Paul 
(Heb. 6 : 1) as one of the seven fundamental principles 
of Christ. We say seven ; for with the best Greek 
expositors we consider didaxrjS (teaching) separately, 
and place it after fianrwpiGbv, as it stands in the 
original. It is, perhaps, fair to infer that the gift of 
healing, as exercised in the Church of Corinth, was 
accompanied by the laying on of hands (1 Cor. 12:9, 
30). 

It is well worthy of note that " the elders" of the 
Church are to pray over the sick one, implying, at least, 
that more than one elder, in cases where they are to be 
found, should be invited to join in the prayer of faith. 
Had this direction been followed, the apostate Greek 
and Latin Churches would not have been tempted to 
deify their innumerable workers of miracles. In travel- 
ling among these churches, and particularly in visiting 
the shrines and tombs of the most famous saints, 
how often does one see old pictures of their persons 
surrounded by a border of smaller pictures, in which 
are represented the miracles of healing, which, as the 
legends tell us, they performed. In one case, we are 
told, a nun only dreamed that her abbess, St. Rada- 
gund, anointed her with oil, ana! awoke healed ! 

As the "elders" or "presbyters" of the primitive 



68 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

churches were officers not met with in any modern 
church or sect, it is important here to ascertain what 
sort of persons in the churches of to-day most near- 
ly correspond to them in character and standing. 
According to Mosheim, Neander, Schaff, and others, 
each church had its band of elders (Acts 14 : 23 ; 
20 : 17 ; Titus 1 : 5). They were superintendents, having 
the general oversight of the church. They were not, at 
the same time, preachers or teachers by virtue of their 
office, although some of them (as was the case of some 
deacons) also preached the Gospel (1 Tim. 3 : 2). 
Even an apostle might properly style himself an elder 
(1 Peter 5 : 1 ; 2 John 1:153 J onn ] : J )- The term 
is employed by some of the apostles sent to the Jews, 
and hence several learned authors hold that this body 
of men corresponded to the presbytery of the syna- 
gogue. It has been laid down as a general rule that 
those who are called elders, in speaking of Jewish 
communities, are called bishops, in speaking of Gentile 
communities. But, in our humble opinion, this rule 
does not hold good ; for the apostle to the Gentiles 
employs the word elder several times. The posture of 
affairs was this : Almost all the churches planted among 
the Gentiles were, in great part, composed of converts 
from Judaism. We have the sole authority of Clemens 
Romanus for the assertion that the first converts were 
ordinarily chosen to this office. The case of the house- 
hold of Stephanas (1 Cor. 16 : 15) has been cited in con- 
firmation of this opinion, but we are nowhere told that 
any of the family were elders. These Christian officers 
first appear as the receivers and almoners of the collec- 
tion made at Antioch, and sent to the churches in 
Judea (Acts 11 : 30). 

To guard against fanaticism, such a body of men 



THE PRAYER CURE. 69 

as answers to the eldership of the primitive church 
should meet and pray for the sick. All the lights we 
can collect from the office as held both in the syna- 
gogues and in the first Christian churches would direct 
us to send to the sick-room men of mature years, 
weight of character, Christian knowledge, and faith in 
the power of prayer. In general, it is seldom wise for 
the pastor or evangelist, except in cases of necessity, 
to administer this rite alone. 

But are we not told in the First Epistle to the Corin- 
thians (12 : 9, 30) that all have not the gifts of heal- 
ing : that some were endued with powers to cure many 
diseases,* while others, we may infer, had no power of 
this description ? Most assuredly we are ; but it is 
noticeable that no one man at Corinth stood forth as a 
great miraculous healer, and if there was any one that 
gained a temporary distinction of this stamp, it is highly 
improbable that he went to sick-rooms unattended 
by some of the brotherhood of Corinth. It is very 
evidently a part of the meaning of, the apostle James 
that the healing rite should be regarded as a church- 
ly and not a clerical rite.f Whenever, therefore, an 
evangelist is requested to perform it, he should refer 
the matter to the church which he is serving, and 

* Meyer wrongly infers from the plurals in the original that different 
gifts were needful for different diseases, whereas from 1 Cor. 12 : 9 we 
learn that one person might possess all these gifts. 

f Some authorities are of opinion that this view of the churchly 
character of the rite is corroborated by the change from the singular 
number to the plural in Mark 16 : 16, 17. But we are almost all less 
willing than the Infinite Mind to allow any exceptional cases. 
Another infirmity of our race is to make a rule out of an exception. 
Perhaps it would not be far from the truth to recognize as sent of 
God some few who are endued with special gifts of healing, just as 
there are at times divine calls given to a few female preachers. 



7o REVIVAL SERVICE. 

commit to their charge all the responsibilities and 
privileges of this ministration, and if he is directed to 
take any part in the prayer cure, he should cause it to 
be fully understood that he is acting as a messenger 
of the church (for this is what the Greek word translated 
elder sometimes imports), and not as one that is indi- 
vidually or officially empowered to discharge this duty. 

Too much caution cannot be exercised by the young 
evangelist in speaking and acting with reference to this 
subject. " Nothing," says Rev. Dr. Gordon,* " needs 
to be held with such quietness and reserve as this truth. 
To press it upon the undevout and uninstructed is to 
bring it into contempt. Those who have the most 
wisdom in such matters will be found speaking in very 
hushed tones, and without presumption or ostenta- 
tion." The same excellent author likewise admonishes 
us not to proclaim the doctrine of divine healing in a 
reckless manner, or to declare that any sick person will 
surely be restored if we carry the case to God. ' We 
should," he adds, " remember that at one place Paul 
healed the father of Publius by his prayers, and that 
at another place he left Trophimus sick." 

As for the modern use of oil in this ministry, the 
judicious Bengel has an important direction coupled 
with a warning: " Let those use oil who are able by 
their prayers to obtain recovery for the sick ; let 
those who cannot do this abstain from the empty 
sign." Sedulously ought we to guard ourselves and 
others against the superstition that the oil can or 
may be made sacred or efficacious by the blessing or 
benediction of a man of faith or any human being. 



* " The Ministry of Healing ; or, Miracles of Cure in All Ages" 
(Boston, 1S83). 



THE PR A YER CURE. 7 1 

As early as the ninth century it was decided by the 
Council of Chalons that the oil with which the sick 
were anointed was to be blessed by the bishop, and 
in the Greek Church of to-day, seven priests, if they 
can be brought together, are to unite in consecrating 
the oil. The language of the Apostle James knows 
nothing about any holy or consecrated oil. 

And this fact goes to confirm the theory that the oil 
mentioned by the apostle was a common household 
remedy, and was recommended to teach us that we 
are not to neglect medicine, or even the most famil- 
iar simples and panaceas. The employment of natural 
means in connection with the divine power which 
effects the cure, is, as some hold, also encouraged 
by Mark 7 : 33 ; 8 : 23 ; John 9 : 6. Certainly no 
Christian of sound mind can condemn the practice of 
medicine or the application of scientific prescriptions. 
There can be no just occasion for discord between a 
revival of the primitive prayer cure and the most 
advanced discoveries and methods of medical science. 
We too commonly speak of the apostles and evangelists 
as mere ignorant fishermen. The fact is, they were 
educated for three years in the best theological school 
that this planet has ever heard of, and one of them 
was a well-trained physician and a writer of excellent 
Greek. Just imagine, judicious reader, the evangelist 
and beloved physician, Luke, discoursing learnedly 
on the peculiar class of diseases which the Lord Jesus 
and Peter and Paul could cure ; and setting apart other 
classes over which, it was very evident, these wonder- 
workers could not possibly have any dominion. It is 
an auspicious sign that there are physicians who add 
prayers to their prescriptions, and so augment human 
skill by the assistance of divine wisdom and power. 



CHAPTER XL 

AWAKENINGS AMONG CHILDREN AND IN SUNDAY- 
SCHOOLS. 

Caution necessary — The proselyting spirit — Blind sympathy and un- 
conscious imitation — Revivalistic formalism and drill — Excep- 
tional cases among the young — Some children are nearer heaven 
than we think — Parental fondness misjudges sometimes — Testi- 
mony of John Todd — Keeping lambs out of the fold — The dream 
of Myconius — Reaping a harvest from Sunday-school concerts 
and teachers' prayer-meetings. 

The Gospel is to be preached to all that have the 
capacity to receive it. The oft-repeated words of the 
Great Teacher are, " He that hath ears to hear, let 
him hear." In almost all revivals children make up 
a majority of the converts, more especially in places 
where Sunday-schools flourish. 

Let us glance at a few of the dangers to which 
Sunday-schools are exposed. In many of these schools 
the superintendents and teachers have such " a passion 
for souls" that the educational function of the schools 
is kept in undue subordination to the work of conver- 
sion. Consequently, the conscience is too often left 
unenlightened and undisciplined. The law, as en- 
joined and illustrated in the Old Testament, is the 
child leader appointed of God to conduct us to Christ. 
To neglect it, therefore, is to slight that course of 
moral education, which is as needful to prepare for 
sound conversion, as it is for the formation of Christian 
character. 

II. The power of sympathy in immature minds is 
liable to be mistaken for the grace of the Holy Spirit. 



AWAKENINGS AMONG CHILDREN. 73 

This danger is too great and too frequent to be here 
considered at adequate length.* 

III. The principle of imitation is likewise very strong 
in the young. So far as words are concerned, some 
parrots have been very devout so long as they could 
be kept out of earshot of the profane. 

IV. To guard against the peril to which children are 
greatly exposed, through sympathy and imitativeness 
in times of revival, it may be difficult and inexpedient 
to keep them out of the company of other awakened 
persons ; but it is possible and desirable to save them 
from the misleading influence of "the drill," in the 
practice of which children are requested to stand up, 
to kneel, to come forward, to hold up the hands, etc., 
in concert and with military punctuality. Opinions 
are, we know, divided as to the expediency in any 
case of this method of expressing anxiety, fear, wishes, 
purposes, and the like ; but, for the reasons already 
given, it is among children particularly exposed to 
abuse. In the necessary absence of judgment and 
knowledge, they are unconsciously led into habits of 
" make-believe" and hypocrisy. 

V. Here we are very apt to put exceptional cases in 
place of the general rule. Striking and pathetic in- 
stances of child-piety, perhaps adorned with precocious 
wit and wisdom, recur to us whenever the subject is 
discussed, so that we fail to look at a number of 
average cases, or else refuse to examine the facts of a 
bad or doubtful case, which demands immediate atten- 
tion and scrutiny. 

VI. But still it ought to be frankly avowed that we 

* The Rev. Dr. John Todd's " Sunday-school Teacher," chap. iii. 
pp. 98-105. 



74 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

may err, on the other hand, by ignoring or overlook- 
ing exceptional cases of very remarkable piety among 
children. It is hard for some men to return to child- 
hood in memory and imagination. And if one was not 
himself converted in childhood he will find it even 
more difficult to put himself in the place of a converted 
child. But let such an evangelist or pastor consider that 
the child brought before him for examination may 
really be nearer heaven than himself, both in respect of 
time and preparation. The shepherd sometimes espies 
a lamb feeding high above himself in a mountain 
pasture ; 

" And the lark, to meet the morn, 
Soars beyond the shepherd's sight." 

The question of the early profession of children and 
their admission to church-membership is one of very 
great importance. It may possibly be settled by a 
few considerations like the following : 

i. We are to remember that here the evidence of con- 
version is to be estimated by the intelligence and the 
impartiality of the witnesses. It is asked, * " Why be 
so cautious as to the testimony of a child ? Since it is 
a question of the validity of evidence, why not weigh 
the validity of the evidence and act accordingly ? 
Why give credence to the expression of the adult and 
reject the experience of a child ?" We ought not, in- 
deed, to refuse the testimony of a child, but we should 
receive it for what it is worth. Very few children have 
such a knowledge of the Scripture account of regener- 
ation and repentance as to enable them to decide 
whether they have been the gracious subjects of either 
or both. Besides, it should be remembered, as we have 

* Rev. Dr. Fish's " Handbook," pp. 181, 333. 



AWAKENINGS AMONG CHILDREN. 75 

already said, that they are to an extraordinary degree 
creatures of sympathy and imitation. 

2. But if their parents add their testimony in behalf 
of the spiritual change, why should others, who have 
not the same means of knowing a child's changed 
manner of life, presume to call in question the reality 
of the change ? Here we must not forget that not a 
few fathers and mothers are in such cases liable to be 
blinded by the partiality of affection. The late Rev. 
Dr. John Todd, fond parent though he was, did not 
allow this fact to mislead him. " I was," says he, 
" once at the house of a friend, who said he had just 
received a visit from a gentleman and lady and their 
child, and was grieved to see that child very uncom- 
monly ill-behaved and disobedient to its parents. 
Judge of my surprise, a few months after, to read a 
biography of that child, in which it was described as a 
paragon of all that is excellent, as having been most 
dutiful and pious for a year or two ... I do not say 
that the child was not really a convert to Christ. I 
believe it was. But I as fully believe that if an im- 
partial stranger had drawn up the memoir, much, if not 
all that now interests us would be gone." We would 
not refuse the testimony of parents in behalf of a 
child, but its value will ever depend on the degree of 
partiality that colors and adorns it. Very few are the 
cases where it could be safely regarded as conclusive. 

3. When delay for further inquiry and instruction 
is recommended, we often hear this pathetic protest : 
"Why turn them out upon the cold mountains to starve 
or perish, to see whether they are alive or not ?" But 
this is not a very fair or very reasonable alternative. 
The children are not deprived of Sunday-school in- 
struction ; in most cases they are not without 



76 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Christian teaching in their homes, nor need they be 
denied the special lessons of the pastor. And what 
can baptism or the Lord's Supper avail them before 
they are made to understand the import of these or* 
dinances of the Church ? 

One of the lesser lights of the Reformation tells us 
that he once received profitable admonition in a dream. 
A voice fell from heaven, saying, <4 Myconius ! 
Myconius ! thrust not in thy sickle so near the earth. 
The Lord of the Harvest needs not the straw, but the 
wheat." Let us not be misunderstood. Neither are 
converted children straw nor unconverted adults wheat. 
All we ask is that children be not admitted to church- 
membership without clear and sufficient evidence of 
their conversion.* 

We must add a few words concerning the Sunday- 
school concert or teachers' prayer-meeting. Very great 
has been the blessing of the Divine Master on these 
too much neglected meetings. Were we able to 
enumerate the converts which Sunday-schools have 
contributed to churches, and to trace the secret means 
and instruments of their conversion, we would perhaps 
be surprised at the numbers which owed their awaken- 
ing to the grace that was sought and found in the Sun- 
day-school prayer-meeting. The great revival in Ire- 
land in 1859 ls thought to have had its immediate ori- 
gin in a prayer-meeting composed of four young men 
who met in an old school-house near Kells. But its 
more remote source is supposed to have been a 
Sabbath-school teachers' prayer-meeting at Tanny- 
brake. It was held in the evening at the close of 

* " Sabbath school Teacher," p. 176. An excellent volume on the 
" Conversion of Children" is by the Rev. Edward Payson Hammond 
(New York, 1878). 



AWAKENINGS AMONG CHILDREN. 77 

the Sabbath-school. Parents were especially invited. 
Prayer, praise, and reading the Bible, with plain obser- 
vations on the portion read, were the regular exercises. 
The one great and absorbing topic was salvation 
through faith in Christ.* The returns of about three 
hundred congregations showed that this revival result- 
ed in an increase of about eleven thousand persons. 
Many other congregations were similarly blessed. 

* " The Year of Grace," by Rev. Prof. Gibson, pp. 39-41. 



CHAPTER XII. 

EXPEDIENTS FOR CALLING OUT INQUIRERS. 

Fixed ideas and uniform measures unwise — Modes of declaring a 
resolution or of asking counsel — Advantages of the anxious-seat — 
Opinions of Jacob Knapp and Orson Parker— Invitations to the 
anxious should be well-timed— A scriptural illustration : Elijah 
and the prophets of Baal — Importance of knowing the spiritual 
mood of the persons invited. 

" What expedient, sir, do you prefer for ascertain- 
ing who are awakened ?" To this question of the 
writer a veteran in revival work once answered, "I 
have no favorite method of inducing the anxious to 
declare themselves. Sometimes I adopt one expedient, 
sometimes another. Ministers and churches that 
would not at the beginning of special meetings consent 
to the ' anxious-seat,' so called, will in the progress of 
the work propose it of their own accord. I simply 
study to follow the leadings of the Spirit." 

It is of some importance to remove, as far as possible, 
all obstacles out of the way to a free avowal of 
religious feelings and purposes. Thus at the close of 
a large promiscuous meeting it were better to invite 
the awakened to meet in another room, than to at- 
tempt to call them forward or to make some sign in 
the presence of a crowd of strangers, among whom 
there are perhaps many trifiers and sneerers. Hence, 
if at any time it be thought necessary to transfer the 
meetings to the chief audience-room, from a room for 
lectures or prayers, when the moment shall arrive for 
calling out the anxious, it will be prudent to dismiss 



EXPEDIENTS FOR CALLING OUT INQUIRERS, 79 

the promiscuous audience, and invite the anxious to 
retire to the latter place of meeting or to the parson- 
age. In a more quiet and familiar place of concourse, 
both the anxious and their Christian friends will be 
less influenced by fear and whatever distracts attention. 

Formerly, the advantages of "the anxious-seat" 
were set forth in various ways. It served, it was said, 
as a test of character ; it was a public committal ; it was 
a very convenient way of making a public acknowl- 
edgment of one's need of Christ ; such acknowledg- 
ment served to encourage other convicted souls ; the 
effect of such a step was also an encouragement to 
the minister and the church.* 

The reasons for the gradual disuse of the " anxious- 
seat" or " penitents' bench" by some revivalists are 
frankly and fairly stated by the Rev. Orson Parker :f 
" For about fifteen years I made use of the ' anxious- 
seat,' till I saw that the people began to trust in it ; 
and that, although they would go to the ' anxious-seat, ' 
they would not go to Christ. It had been injudi 
ciously used as the ' mourners' bench ' and as the 
'anxious-seat, until people generally became preju- 
diced against it. So that few would come forward 
when called, unless somebody went and urged them, 
and almost pulled them forward.'"' 

" For a long time I called upon the convicted to 
rise up for prayers. There is something gained by 
this, but not as much as is supposed. It brings a man 
one step forward as an inquirer, and may deepen his 
conviction, but he often trusts in the prayers of 
Christians, and hangs upon them until he is shaken off 



* " Elder Jacob Knapp's Autobiography,' pp. 214-221. 
f " The Fire and ihe Hammer," pp. 48, 49. 



So REVIVAL SERVICE. 

and made to feel that Christians cannot save him. If 
a man is convicted enough to ask the prayers of 
Christians, he is convicted enough to go to Christ ; 
and there he should be sent, and there he should go. 

" Usually, at the close of an evening sermon, I now 
let all leave who wish while the people are singing, and 
invite all to remain who will, for private conversation, 
and so turn the whole house into an inquiry room. 
After a few evenings very few will leave, and men 
and women will remain to be conversed with, and 
many will be converted, who would never get up and 
leave their seats and come to what is termed the 
' anxious-seat.' And yet in this, as in the case of the 
* anxious-seat,' care must be exercised to see that it 
helps people toward Christ. So long as that is the 
standard, ' anxious-seats,' rising for prayers, and in- 
quiry meetings may all safely be employed." To the 
measures here described we make two objections. It 
appears to us that it is never well to distract the atten- 
tion of a congregation while the praises of God are 
being sung. To request any class of persons to retire 
or to propose taking up a collection during the singing 
of hymns is unfriendly to good order and heartfelt and 
reverent worship. This is the rule ; an exceptional 
case is that of inviting the anxious to come forward 
or pass into the inquiry room while a hymn of invita- 
tion or appeal to this very class of persons is being 
sung. Another thing : the attempt to turn a large 
audience room into a place for inquiry is not always 
successful, because many persons remain from curios- 
ity or from a desire to find matter for criticism or de- 
traction. These will ever, wittingly or unwittingly, 
divide the attention both of the inquirers and of those 
who are present to give advice to or pray for and with 



EXPE DIEN TS FOR CALLING OUT JNQ UlRER S. 8 1 

them. A veteran revivalist of our acquaintance is very 
firm in the conviction that every inquiry meeting- 
should be restricted to inquirers. He would not 
admit any unbelievers, however well disposed they 
might seem. He justifies his practice by a reference 
to the example of the Divine Healer in Matt. 9:25; 
Mark 5 : 37-40 ; Luke 8 : 51-54. 

But to return to the question of the " penitents' 
bench" or "anxious-seat.'* Several facts are on 
record to the effect that persons of high self-regard 
have found peace while on their way to the " anxious- 
seat." What was required of them was submission to 
the will of the Lord. As soon as they surrendered 
pride and wilfulness, they obtained the hope of pardon. 
Everything depended on a right inclination, and noth- 
ing on the " anxious-seat" as such. 

The " anxious-seat" and the revival prayer-meeting 
are sometimes rendered inoperative by a resort to 
prayer before either the Christian workers or the 
seekers have learned what are the things that are to 
be asked of the Lord. Many and various are the 
delusions of the anxious. These should be found out 
and removed. The plan of salvation or the nature of 
repentance may, in some cases, need explanation. 
"Seekers," says the Rev. Dr. James Porter,* "are 
saved by faith. . . . The suggestions of the devil to 
one trying to break away from him and turn to Christ 
are many and diversified, either of which may prevent 
him from believing unto salvation. Faith is also de- 
sirable on . the part of those who pray for inquirers, 
but how can they believe that they will receive an 
immediate answer, unless they have some definite 

* " Hints to Self- Educated Ministers," pp. 199-202 (New York, 
1879). 



82 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

understanding of the condition of those for whom 
they pray ? It is impossible without a special revela- 
tion." The same judicious writer is of opinion that 
the success of prayer at such times depends much on a 
Scriptural attitude, spirit, and position, and complains 
that inquirers are invited forward in an excited and 
hasty manner. Very aptly does he illustrate his mean- 
ing by the case of Eljiah and the prophets of Baal, in 
I Kings 1 8 : 30-38. The prophets of Baal prayed in 
vain, because in disregard of the law, from morning 
till noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us." But Elijah 
proceeded obediently and with all due preparation. 
After everything was ready, he delayed prayer until 
the time of the evening sacrifice, as prescribed by the 
law of God, and then he urged as one reason for being 
heard, that it might be known that he had done all 
these things at God's Word. " If," says this writer, 
" we had but fifteen minutes to devote to inquirers, 
we could spend ten of them in preparing to pray. We 
may then accomplish more in five minutes than we 
could in hours, and even days, while out of position. 

One of the common expedients of evangelists, espe- 
cially in New England, has been to secure a separation 
of a religious assembly into classes. By various pub- 
lic demonstrations believers are separated from un- 
believers, or professors from non-professors, or the 
anxious from such as are unconcerned, and the like. 
In some instances Christian parents have been invited 
to come forward in the presence of the congregation 
and unite in praying for their unconverted children. 
Another form of separation has been exhibited on the 
occasion of the celebration of the Lord's Supper. 
Unbelievers or the impenitent have been invited 
to stay as spectators. This division is made the 



EXPEDIENTS FOR CALLING OUT INQUIRERS. 83 

subject of appeals to the latter. This kind of demon- 
stration has been recommended as less violent than 
any other. But an ardent advocate of revivals * has 
given a judicious opinion on these public separations ; 
he thinks them suited only to very high states of feel- 
ing, and calling for the exercise of the greatest delicacy 
and prudence. 

It is perhaps scarcely necessary to add that no appeal 
should ever be made to the convicted or the anxious 
to rise, to lift up their hands, or to come forward, un- 
less the leader of the meeting is assured beforehand 
that there are some who are willing to do so. 
Urgent and repeated exhortations, to which there is 
no response, have a very unhappy effect. Sometimes 
the leader may place himself in the relation of a 
public antagonist to the unconverted part of the meet- 
ing. " I have seen," says the late Dr. Kirk, " a leader 
become angry because he was foiled in the attempt to 
persuade some one to come forward. This can be 
avoided, however, by simply making the offer and not 
undertaking to urge the step." 

This whole subject is one upon which no prudent man 
will venture to be very positive. Whenever the Lord 
commands us to dig ditches, we need not doubt that 
he will fill them with water (2 Kings 3 : 16-25). 
Methods that are merely human, although devised 
with the best intentions, cannot be always and every- 
where successful. All things change, and we change 
with them. But in the use of means and instruments, 
we may sometimes wisely change without incurring the 
charge of desiring novelties : we may return to the 
old, and find it more serviceable than the new. 

* " American Revivals," by Rev. Calvin Colton, A.M. London, 
1832, pp. 89 106. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

INQUIRY MEETINGS CONSIDERED. 

Objections to seats for inquirers : making a virtue of a public demon- 
stration — No Scripture authority for such seats — Not the mercy- 
seat— The timid not reached — Time and place of the inquiry 
meeting — Practice of Edwards. Buell, and Humphrey — Instruc- 
tion to inquirers — Strictures on certain kinds of advice — Moody's 
method of conducting these meetings. 

Many evangelists adopt some method of finding out 
who are awakened or anxious at the close of each 
public service, and then invite all such to a meeting for 
inquiry. Some, however, depend solely on an inquiry 
meeting for ascertaining the individuals that need 
instruction, warning, or encouragement, along with the 
intercessions of the faithful. The latter are opposed to 
all expedients for eliciting public manifestations from 
the awakened, the convicted, or the alarmed. Some 
of their objections to the " anxious-seat" may be 
briefly stated as follows : 

I. Many awakened sinners feel that by rising and 
going forward they have publicly committed them- 
selves, and that therefore they have a right to expect 
regenerating grace — in other words, as they have taken 
steps toward Christ, they may hope that He will ad- 
vance to meet them ; whereas they should be taught 
that Jesus is their first and only refuge, and therefore 
they are to renounce all ideas of preparation, self-de- 
pendence, and even of self-complacency, on the ground 
that they repose no confidence in themselves, but are 



INQUIRY MEETINGS CONSIDERED. 85 

ready to take any step that their pious friends may 
advise. 

2. There is no Scripture authority for this measure, 
more especially when it is supposed to imply a promise 
on the part of the unconverted to seek the Lord. 

3. The attention of the prayerful is drawn away from 
the mercy-seat, to secure the success of the " anxious- 
seat." 

4. The persons rising and coming forward are, for 
the most part, the sanguine, the rash, the self-confident 
or the self-righteous, while those who are more deeply 
affected will perhaps keep their seats, and yet will prove 
to be the modest, the humble, the broken-hearted, and 
such as are convicted of the deceitfulness of sin, and 
therefore afraid to take so momentous a step without 
further consideration. 

But still, those who are, for these or like reasons, 
opposed to the " anxious-seat" do not deny that it is 
important to call sinners to an immediate decision, 
and also to an immediate manifestation of that decision. 
Some of the different methods of accomplishing these 
objects are the following : 

" Sometimes those who are awakened are requested 
to remain in their places after the congregation have 
retired, that they may be prayed with and addressed 
collectively, or conversed with individually by the 
pastor. Sometimes they are requested to retire from 
the church to the lecture-room for the same purpose. 
Sometimes the pastor at the close of the public exer- 
cises on Sunday invites all who wish for conversation 
to come to the parsonage on that evening. At other 
times, when the number is large, he appoints an 
inquiry meeting to be held in some convenient place 
on Monday or Tuesday evening. And sometimes, 



86 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

for convenience' sake, the inquirers in different neigh- 
borhoods are invited to meet the pastor in one of 
their own houses.* 

The custom of Jonathan Edwards, at Northampton, 
Massachusetts, and of Samuel Buell, of East Hamp- 
ton, Long Island, was to invite the anxious to meet at 
the parsonage ; and there are cases not a few where in- 
quirers might profitably go alone, or attended by some 
friend, to have a private interview with the pastor or 
evangelist. The bashful and the diffident might often 
consent to go to the parsonage when they could not 
be induced to appear in a meeting for inquiry. 

It is with painful solicitude that many a young pas- 
tor asks himself: "How shall I instruct anxious 
inquirers?" Our space will not permit us here to 
answer this question in any detail. There is one gen- 
eral remark, made by the Rev. Jacob Knapp,f which 
is worthy of special consideration. " In the anxious- 
room," says he, " I depend more on prayer, on pre- 
vailing supplication with God, than all the instruction 
that can be given. Everything is dark to the sinner 
until enlightened by the Spirit ; and no coaxing, no 
teaching, no driving will compel or induce the devil 
to leave his palace in the human soul until the stronger 
than the strong man armed comes upon him and binds 
him. Then the work is done, and done effectually. 
Hence, I get all on their knees and set them to crying 
to God (both saints and sinners) until He sends down 
salvation." 

* The Rev. Dr. Heman Humphrey's " Letters to his Son," pp. 
305-6 ; Rev. Dr. Sprague's " Lectures on Revivals," pp. 263, 331, 348. 

f Autobiography, p. 221, Rev. Dr. Finney's " Lectures on Re- 
vivals," Rev. Dr. Humphrey's " Manual of Revivals," and Hervey's 
' Rhetoric of Conversation," contain some counsels on this subject. 



INQUIRY MEETINGS CONSIDERED. 87 

But still the question returns, " How shall I instruct 
inquirers ? United prayer is indeed the chief instru- 
ment of bringing the regenerating Spirit, but how 
am I to direct those who imagine that they are yet 
seeking, when they have, in fact, already found their 
Saviour ?'.' The wisest advisers are slow to assure such 
persons in a word that they are regenerate. They 
choose rather to speak the language of charity and hope. 
In cases even where the change is unquestionable, 
there may be such ignorance of the Gospel and of the 
doctrines of Scripture that the young convert cannot 
with a good conscience become a member of any 
church that holds articles of faith. Much trouble re- 
sults from making evidence of conversion a full quali- 
fication for church-membership. 

In giving invitations to inquiry meetings, do not 
make them too general in their terms, otherwise many, 
perhaps, will come who are not anxious. These last 
are not likely to derive any benefit from the directions 
and exhortations given, while they are very liable to 
give either an air of levity or of cold reserve to the 
gathering. 

In order to break this reserve, and at the same time, 
avoid distraction and a misleading sympathy and imita- 
tion, it is best to speak to each one in a very low tone, 
and, if possible, while sitting a little apart from the 
rest. 

There are certain phrases which Mr. Finney and 
others advise ministers to use in these meetings, on 
the ground that they are always proper or safe. One 
of these is, " Submit to God." If the anxious one 
is depending on his own works or sufferings for salva- 
tion, and he has been taught the Gospel doctrine of 
the Atonement, then submission should be urged. 



88 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Scripturally he is now to submit to the righteousness 
of Christ as a part of God's plan of salvation, and yet 
many are directed to " submit," when repentance, 
obedience, or some other duty is more immediately 
demanded. Another piece of " safe" advice is, 
" Give your heart to God." But is this advice always 
safe ? To anxious inquirers, who know very little 
about the excellences and perfections of God the 
Father, and have, as yet, no heartfelt evidence of the 
love of Christ to them, cannot give " their hearts to 
Him," if by that phrase is meant the duty that they 
should regard Him with a complacent love. They 
may possibly so love Him as to obey Him. Very 
carefully shoald we avoid even Scripture phrases, or 
words of counsel or exhortation, if they are not suit- 
able for the peculiar state of the inquirer. 

Wisely has it been remarked that inquiry meetings 
cannot be run by rule. Thus Mr. Moody's method 
is very suitable for his peculiar modes of operation 
and their results. But still, as something may be 
learned from those who are not to be followed in 
most of their ways, we here give a sketch of his 
method of conducting such a meeting. At the close 
of the public service he invites the anxious to enter 
the inquiry room, and at the same time requests the 
merely curious not to disturb the solemnity of the place 
by their presence. At the opening of the meeting he 
assumes that there are only two classes present, the 
seekers and the "workers." By a call for the in- 
quirers to rise he ascertains their numbers, and at once 
distributes them in different parts of the room, and 
assigns a " worker" to each inquirer or each class of 
inquirers. In a few minutes the whole room presents 



INQUIRY MEETINGS CONSIDERED. 89 

a hushed and solemn scene. A Bible, without which no 
worker is welcome in that place, is freely opened, and 
earnest faces bow together over its pages, as Mr. 
Moody quotes and explains passages that are appropri- 
ate to the matters in hand. In many cases the teacher 
and inquirer study its promises on their knees, and 
then engage in prayer. In almost every case the 
inquirer is urged to pray for himself, and if unable to 
form the sentences the teacher makes the prayer, 
which, sentence by sentence, is solemnly repeated. In 
half an hour Mr. Moody goes to the platform and 
asks all to kneel while two or three prayers are offered, 
to the end that the hour may be one of universal 
decision. " Now," says the leader, " there are many 
souls here buffeting, the waves ; let us throw out a 
plank for them. Mr. A., can you tell these people 
how they can be saved now?" The Christian thus 
addressed points out in a few brief words or illustra- 
tions the path of life. Another, then another, is called 
upon to throw out some plank from God's Word or 
his own experience. These testimonies are rapidly 
given, while eager souls drink in the counsels they 
contain. Then the leader explains the solemn 
character of the decision to which he urges the in- 
quirers, and calls on those who are ready to accept 
Christ to do so at once. One after another they 
express their purpose to live a Christian life. While 
some are hesitating between life and death, the leader 
asks all who can sing the " I will trust Him" or " He 
will save me," to rise and repeat that chorus. Lead- 
ing on their faith, he calls for another singing of the 
same verse, perhaps changing it thus, "I do trust 
Him" or" He has saved me." At last, the young 



90 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

converts having been earnestly commended to God in 
prayer, the meeting is promptly closed.* 

Some good hints concerning the use of Bible readings 
in inquiry meetings will be found near the close of the 
chapter on that branch of our subject. For the sake 
of variety it may sometimes be well to read one of 
more sentences or paragraphs in place of singing, 
after the manner of the offertory in the Book of 
Common Prayer. 

* "Times of Refreshing," by the Rev. Dr. C. L. Thompson, pp. 
39 2 » 393- 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE AGENCY OF TRACTS AND LETTERS IN REVIVALS. 

Evidence on behalf of tracts — Parker, Murphy, and Fish — Corre- 
spondence blessed in Scotland— The writing of Christian letters 
demands prudence — The interest which invests written words and 
sentences — Letters may be written when the voice is reduced to 
silence— St. Paul in prison. 

The Reformation in Germany and England was 
rolled forward not only by great Bibles, but by little 
tracts as well. The tracts that Luther wrote and 
circulated, now so highly valued as literary curiosities, 
did good service in their day, Huss was converted by 
reading a tract written by Wyckliffe, ' The Morning 
Star of the Reformation.'' Several of the most 
successful evangelists or pastors, who have been re- 
markably blessed with revivals among their people, are 
very positive in their testimony in behalf of these little 
adjuvants. The Rev. Orson Parker enumerates them 
among the means he had found serviceable. The Rev. 
Dr. Murphy employed them in his parish as one of 
the preparatives of a work of converting grace. 
Says he : " Just before our special meetings com- 
menced, we had a notice of the meetings printed on 
the backs of one-page tracts, cordially inviting all 
to attend • requesting the sympathies and prayers of 
Christians in our efforts, and kindly urging the un- 
converted to prepare to meet God. One of these, with 
a suitable four-page tract, was inclosed in an envelope 
bearing this printed inscription : ' Please take this 



92 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

home ; read the inclosed carefully ; think about the 
subject earnestly ; act honestly and promptly. Time is 
short.' Packages of these were placed in the hands of 
distributors, with instructions how to give them away. 
Hundreds were distributed in the city (Salem, New 
Jersey) and the surrounding country. Frequently a 
written note was added, and the whole inclosed in 
another envelope, directed to some friend, and sent 
through the post-office or by the hand of a messenger. 
Thus we sought to prepare the way of the Lord." 
The late Rev. Dr. Fish, of Newark, a pastor who enjoy- 
ed more than one special work of grace among the 
people of his charge, says that " he can safely say that 
he has known of hundreds of conversions that could 
be traced to tracts and books. The writer," says he, 
'■' well remembers how a youth under his charge (now 
a distinguished professor in one of our colleges) was 
finally brought to repentance through the ' Great In- 
quiry,' which he gave to him, accompanying it with an 
affectionate letter and many prayers. And in all the 
revivals among his people he has freely used such tracts 
as ' Don't put it off,' ' What is it to believe on Christ ? ' 
' Come to Jesus ' (by Newman Hall), and his own 
' Two Questions,' viz., ' Is your soul safe?' and ' How 
can I be saved ? ' He likewise bears witness to their 
usefulness when given to inquirers, either to awaken 
or direct, as the case seemed to require. " This," says 
he, '"is of great importance, as reading will tend to 
fix upon the mind the impression which the conversa- 
tion may have made, and lead to clearer views of truth 
and duty."* 

Trivial as the hint may appear, yet facts might be 

* " Handbook of Revivals," pp. 230-234, 354. 



TRACTS AND LETTERS IN REVIVALS. 93 

adduced to prove the importance of exacting from 
the careless and indifferent a promise to read the tract 
you give them, adding the assurance on your part that 
you would like to know what they think about its 
contents. 

We have already touched upon the service done by 
letters. The awakening at Cellardyke, Scotland, in 
i860,* was in part occasioned by several letters sent 
by fishermen at Eyemouth and Ferryden, giving 
accounts of the work of grace in these fishing towns. " 

The Christian correspondent/' says an anonymous 
writer,! " may do much for God. A kind letter has 
often told on the conscience and the heart, when the 
most affectionate and pointed admonition by word of 
mouth has proved useless, and even offensive. . . . 
The station, character, acquirements, joys and sorrows, 
hopes and fears, both of a writer of a letter on religious 
topics and of him for whose welfare it is designed, are 
among a host of things which must be taken into the 
account, and any of which are sufficient to render a 
style of communication which in one case would be most 
appropriate and affecting, in another most impertinent 
an offensive. The law of kindness in the heart, and 
the wisdom which cometh from above, will form the 
best guide in this matter." 

There is a persuasiveness in the handwriting of a 
friend which the most beautiful specimen of typog- 
raphy cannot command. The advantage of the 
former has been calculated in a pecuniary way by 

*" Authentic Records of Revival," by the Rev. William Reid 
(London, 1860), p. 464. 

\ " Christian Exertion," pp. 102, 103. This little volume, published 
by the American Sunday-school Union, explains and enforces the duty 
of members of churches to labor for the conversion of men. 



94 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

secretaries of benevolent societies ; and where printed 
circulars have been addressed by them to individuals, 
it has been found of much service to add a few words, 
even in pencil. 

The sermons and " Talks" of Mr. Moody contain 
some facts in proof of the usefulness of letters. Other 
evangelists whose sermons have not been published 
also bear witness to the success of this instrumental- 
ity. Let the Christian worker rejoice that he may 
employ this method of reaching souls when all others 
are forbidden. When the Apostle Paul was manacled, 
he could still write epistles, and say with joy, " but 
the word of God is not bound." 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTURBERS AND RIOTERS. 

.-» 
The stupidity of mobs — The tact and address of Wesley, Whitefield, 
Rowland Hill, and others — The text and its unforeseen applica- 
tion — May forcible means be employed? — In every true work 
of grace heavenly wisdom is given to all such as publicly engage 
in it — Paroxysms, faintings. and prostrations — The opinions of 
Wesley. Erskine, and others concerning these seizures. 

The young preacher is sometimes at a loss as to the 
best way to quell the spirit of disorder and riot which 
may threaten to invade the meetings, and even to do 
him personal injury. No city of Christendom is 
perfectly secure from occasional uprisings of abjects ; 
and at times a mania for rabbles appears to rage 
without any sufficient occasion for its prevalence. 
Mere novelty is then enough to drive it to deeds of 
lawlessness. The vegetarian, Dr. Graham, was once 
mobbed in Boston for lecturing against the use of 
animal food, and Lord Chesterfield in London for 
obtaining the passage of a bill in Parliament authoriz- 
ing the New Style in the calendar. But during revivals 
the malice of Satan is often found opposing the most 
manifest operations of the Holy Ghost. At such 
seasons young persons of education and of respectable 
family are instigated to form conspiracies against the 
peace of meetings or the reputation and personal safety 
of the evangelist. Happily, these plots very seldom 
accomplish the object the Fiend intended ; for the 
Divine Spirit, who begins and continues every truje 
revival, suggests to the evangelist at the time the best 



g6 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

means of detecting and exposing these schemes of 
satanic wickedness. It was this Spirit of wisdom who 
came to the aid of Wesley and Whitefield in every 
emergency of this kind, and inspired them with a 
courage that was not less astonishing than their 
prudence. Rowland Hill adroitly put himself under 
the protection of the very bully that led into one of 
his assemblies a company of his fellow-roughs. An 
evangelist equally eccentric, Jabez S. Swan, when chal- 
lenged to fight, appealed to the " code of honor," and 
claiming the right to fix the time and place, met his 
adversary the next day in a public place and began the 
combat with prayer. The grace of God, coming in 
answer to the same, broke down the pugilist. 

This kind of defence is at once the most scriptural 
and the most effectual. Very many are the instances 
of its success ; among the more recent are those which 
are furnished by the memoirs of " Uncle" John 
Vassar. "Sometimes," we are told, "a group of 
reckless young men would come into the evening ser- 
vice, and, by talking and laughing, disturb the meet- 
ing. As soon as anything of the kind was commenced, 
" Uncle" John would quietly move that way, and get- 
ting into the group, would drop down and offer such a 
prayer as would shame them, and sometimes strike 
every soul with seriousness." 

Next to prayer, a sermon or exhortation, suggested 
by the Holy Spirit for the occasion, has most frequently 
been of excellent service. A veteran revivalist once, 
as he told me, was unable to fix on a text. The rebuke 
in Acts 13 : 10 often occurred to him, and as often 
was disapproved. It did not appear to him as in any 
part suitable for the occasion. No Elymas, so far as 
he knew, was present ; and yet, finding no other text 



DISTURBERS AND RIOTERS. 97 

in which he took any interest, and the moment for 
preaching having come, he rose and began to speak 
upon it. Receiving more and more liberty and energy 
as he proceeded, he was at length inwardly assured that 
he had an application for some person present. The 
event proved that the subject and the matter of this 
sermon were given him by the Spirit of all grace. An 
apostate and an enemy to the revival seeing that a 
number of young men were growing in anxiety concern- 
ing their salvation, he used all his great influence to 
make them infidels, and went so far as to organize them 
into a company pledged to one another that they would 
go to the meeting on that occasion, and by disorder 
and derision put an end to the work. No sooner did 
they hear the text than they began to suspect that 
their plot had been divulged. Fear took the place of 
foolhardiness, a sense of guilt and danger banished 
levity, and all, except the apostate, were led to convic- 
tion or repentance by that extemporaneous sermon. 
As the apostles, when brought before kings and govern- 
ors, were taught by the Spirit what to say, so evange- 
lists, while engaged in the converting work of the Lord, 
may expect wisdom from above to dictate to them fit- 
ting words and measures with which to withstand and 
attack their enemies. 

But are there not places where policemen or con- 
stables may justifiably be asked to keep or restore 
order? Most certainly, and especially where the dis- 
turbers are very ignorant young men, animated by the 
wicked one, or brutish men maddened with drink. 
Very rarely, indeed, is it prudent for the evangelist, 
be he ever so skilled in boxing, or stout and active, to 
resort to " muscular Christianity" in defending him- 
self and the faith. To overcome evil with good, to 



9 8 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

oppose meekness to violence, to be gentle and patient 
in intercourse with the rude and the abusive, is often 
the more Christlike and effectual remedy. Our Divine 
Master did indeed use violence in driving away pro- 
faners from the courts of the Temple. But on these 
occasions He acted from Divine authority, and with 
resistless power. On the other hand, He did not 
always hear cavillings and sophistries with silence and 
tame forbearance. He ever distinguished between 
what was intended as an affront to His person and 
what was due to saving and renewing truth. He was 
manly in argument, and in Him a devotional spirit was 
without any evidence of artifice or mental weakness. 

Brevity requires us to make an end. We therefore 
repeat, in the first place, that in all true movements 
of the Spirit there is commonly given to the preacher 
and his trusty colaborers such wisdom as each emer- 
gency demands. This remark is at once illustrated and 
proved by the Memoirs and Journals of Wesley, White- 
field, Rowland Hill, and Jacob Knapp. For the prince 
of darkness and his slaves to outwit and defeat the 
Holy Spirit and his disciples were to make void the 
teachings of Scripture, and to break the wheels of 
eternal Providence. 

For the rest, whenever the disorder is incident to the 
work itself, as where the convicted are deprived of 
all strength, so as to be quite prostrated, some disorder 
and confusion may occur while these demonstrations 
are yet a novelty. When persons thus fall, let them 
remain. They are in most cases what the grace of God 
perhaps intended they should be, silent but convincing 
witnesses of the power of the Holy Ghost. * Such is the 

* " Lectures on Revivals by Ministers of Scotland," p. 349. Com- 
pare Ralph Erskine's letter in Wesley's Journal. 



DISTURBERS AND RIOTERS. 99 

advice of the closest observers of these seizures and 
prostrations. They would, however, recommend a 
different course for all such as are subject to nervous 
disease, or such as have been repeatedly ' ' stricken 
down." In such cases it is necessary to separate the 
individual as much as possible from all exciting causes, 
to resist the approach of every curious visitor, and by 
some suitable occupation to draw away the attention 
from the mind's exercises.* 

While in general these " strikings," (< seizures," or 
" prostrations" which attended the revivals led by 
Wesley and the Erskines, and which appeared in 
Kentucky in 1804 and Ireland in 1859, were graciously 
intended to glorify God, by making a direct appeal to 
the senses of the unbelieving and the careless, yet it 
seems very probable that in some cases they proceeded 
from demoniac agency, and had for their object a frus- 
tration of the work of grace, and the defence and ex- 
tension of the kingdom of darkness. 

* " Year of Grace," by the Rev. Prof. Gibson, p. 399. This writer 
devotes a very instructive chapter to the pathological affections or 
physical manifestations that appeared in Ireland during the revival of 
1859. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE INTRUSIONS OF THE FEEBLE-MINDED AND THE 
INSANE. 

What is to be done : resist beginnings — The friends of the feeble- 
minded may be consulted beforehand — Duty of sextons and 
ushers — Singing or praying the insane into silence — Advantage 
taken of the fact that the praying devil is scarce — Order restored 
by a pleasant remark. 

ALMOST every place where the awakened and the 
recently renewed are wont to assemble seems to attract 
some insane or feeble-minded person, who occasions 
disturbance, distraction, and disorder. Few things are 
more detrimental to the progress of a work of grace 
than the caricatures and travesties of religion which 
this kind of mad people are pretty sure to make. The 
most important question for us to ask here is, What 
shall we do with them ? 

1. Resist the beginnings. In order to effect this 
object, insist that there shall be no shouting or loud 
responses during the delivery of the sermons. If we 
maintain order while preaching, it will be more easy to 
do so in prayer-meetings. If people of sound mind 
allow themselves to be noisy, they stir up and embolden 
the deranged to be much more so. 

2. At the beginning of the meetings, the sexton 
should be consulted about the prospect of any disturb- 
ance from persons of this class. He may dissuade some 
from entering the house, or by giving them a seat near 
the door, may, if necessary, the more easily obtain 
their quiet removal. 



INTRUSIONS OF THE FEEBLE-MINDED, ETC. 101 

3. Concerning chronic or incurable cases, their rela- 
tions or particular friends or a physician may be taken 
into our confidence. In this way preventive measures 
may be harmoniously and successfully adopted. It is 
sadly true that the daily companions of some crazy 
people grow inattentive to their misbehavior, and 
hence they are sometimes shocked and offended when 
any public notice is taken of it. 

4. Feeble-minded men may occasionally be induced 
to promise to take no part in a prayer-meeting. If, 
therefore, they attempt to do so, they may possibly 
cease, on being reminded of the promise they made. 

5. The interruptions and disturbances caused by 
monomaniacs and other such persons may, in some 
cases, be best prevented by adopting the rule of calling 
on persons by name to pray or exhort. 

6. Another less commendable expedient is this : a 
few persons agree to take part in the meeting in quick 
succession, or to watch the movements of the deranged 
for the purpose of getting possession of the floor be- 
fore him. 

7. Forasmuch as mad people very seldom pray, the 
leader of the meeting may keep them quiet by saying, 
" Some brother will now pray ; after prayer we will 
sing this hymn ;" and at the moment the hymn is 
given out, it maybe added, "After singing, another 
brother will lead us in prayer." If, on such an occa- 
sion, an erratic person rises to exhort or expound, the 
leader may check him with the reminder that prayer 
or singing is next in order. 

8. How can one best arrest a maniac when he has 
contrived to seize an opportunity to take part ? He is 
usually sung or prayed down. To attempt to eject him 
from the meeting is dangerous. As he is very liable to 



102 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

be censorious or uncharitable or violent, he may expose 
himself to be called to order. The leader should keep 
on the lookout for any opportunity to interrupt him 
and turn aside his attention. As he does not often 
speak to the point, he can often be told that he is for- 
getting the object of the meeting. If he be requested 
to lead in prayer, he will commonly come to a speedy 
end, for usually he dislikes this kind of religious ex- 
ercise. Yet, exceptional cases there are. We have 
known deranged persons to resort to prayer as a shield 
against the hand of the sexton, while some of this 
class would hardly be suspected of insanity were it not 
for the enormous length of their prayers. Happily for 
us, however, the praying devil is scarce. 

9. People should be encouraged to pray for these 
miserables, especially in their private devotions. The 
power of Jesus and His disciples over demons ought to 
embolden our hope that such prayer will be answered. 

10. Force must, we are sorry to say, be used some- 
times to remove insane persons from a meeting ; hence 
it is prudent to attend personally to the appointment 
of ushers to assist the sexton, and they should under- 
stand beforehand that a part of their business is to keep 
out, and, if necessary, to put out all disorderly persons, 
whether maniacs, drunkards, or unmannerly boys. 

11. Needful as force sometimes is, yet " I show 
you a more excellent way." Cases might be given in 
which prayer, united and persistent, has done what 
"muscular Christianity" could not do to conquer a 
peace. In one instance known to us, the leader of a 
band of young rioters, that had gone so far as to drive 
all the worshippers out of doors, was converted in an- 
swer to the prayers of the very persons who had been 
thus rudely cast out of the synagogue. 



INTRUSIONS OF THE FEEBLE-MINDED, ETC. 103 

12. Those who are disorderly in sermon time may- 
be the very persons for whose conversion we are pray- 
ing and preaching. It is therefore desirable to keep 
them on good terms with ourselves. One day a young 
man who was very fussy during the sermon was reduced 
to quiet by the following remark : " The other day I 
publicly rebuked a hearer for inattention. Judge of 
my mortification when I learned that the disturber of 
the peace was an idiot." 



CHAPTER XVII. 

SOME OF THE EVILS INCIDENT TO TRUE REVIVALS. 

Fanaticism — False hopes — Spiritual pride — Want of charity— Exag- 
geration — Self-confidence — Neglect of the ordinary means of 
grace — Let the dead bury their dead — Numerical success — Novices 
— False tests of piety — Party spirit — Vainglory — Resting on 
means — Changes of feeling — Perpetual ingathering — Examples 
in England, Scotland, and America— Spiritual discernment of 
Elisha. 

Many of the most judicious friends of revivals 
caution us against certain evils and abuses to which 
revivals are exposed. A few of these we here enu- 
merate : 

1. At such times the people are liable to fanaticism. 
Passion, feeling, extreme opinions, and extravagant 
measures are very apt to usurp the place that belongs 
to reason, conscience, sacred reverence, and the fruits 
of the Spirit. A great excitement may prevail, in 
connection with religious meetings, which, as results 
have shown, had its origin neither in the truth nor grace 
of the Gospel — an excitement that was fruitful in vain- 
glory and self-righteousness. 

2. Another evil is the encouragement of false hopes. 
A true hope is founded on a genuine faith. Some 
revivalists are content to bring the anxious to " obtain 
a hope." Others are satisfied if people have an 
indefinite, aimless, and causeless conviction of sin. 
Still others demand only and ever " submission," or, it 
may be, they exact promises and pledges of those who 
are as yet ignorant of the deceitfulness of their own 
hearts. "The instrument," says Rev. Dr. Sprague, 



EVILS INCIDENT TO TRUE REVIVALS. 105 

" by which every conversion is effected is God's truth. 
If then ministers during a revival fail to hold up the 
truth in its distinctive and commanding features, and 
confine themselves principally to impassioned addresses 
and earnest hortatory appeals, there is great reason to 
apprehend many spurious conversions." 

3. Spiritual pride is another evil to be avoided. So 
much is often made of young converts ; they are so 
often called forward to " bear testimony" to exhort 
and give their experience, that they are in great danger 
of self-exaltation and presumption. 

4. Nearly related to spiritual pride is another evil — an 
uncharitable spirit showing itself in talks and exhorta- 
tions, if not even in sermons. The zealous denounce 
the inactive and the backslidden in the severest 
language. They think it enough to speak the truth, 
whereas they should ever speak it in love. The young 
censure and rebuke the old, imagining that there are 
scarcely any other virtues than fervor, activity, and 
occasional public demonstrations of piety. Nor is it 
an uncommon thing to see the established and aged 
disciple, in self-defence, indulging in words of recrimi- 
nation. 

5. Avoid exaggeration. Young converts, while 
carried away with enthusiasm, are very apt to use ex- 
travagant language. The woman of Samaria, trans- 
ported as she was with the discovery of the Messiah, 
proclaimed through the streets that Jesus had told her 
all things that she had ever done. This fault may show 
itself not only in statements and narratives, but in par- 
tial representations of revealed truth. By emphasizing 
unimportant words or dwelling on trivial incidents ; by 
putting comparatively small matters in a strong light, 
while we throw essential doctrines or duties into the 



106 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

shade, we may produce all the effect of fanaticism in 
experience, heresy in doctrine, or disobedience in 
practice. 

6. Shun likewise a forward, self-confident spirit. 
Too often young persons are told that they may all 
know for certain that they are regenerate or have 
believed Christ. Hence they learn to speak of their 
conversion as if there could be no doubt or mistake, 
and no room for " the judgment of charity." Some 
of them will assure us that they can tell the very day 
and hour when they were converted ; and possibly 
they can, but in their present ignorance their assurance 
is little better than conjecture. 

7. We are also to beware of the tendency to neglect 
the ordinary means of grace. In times of revival, 
regular Sunday observance, the stated meetings of the 
church, family worship, and secret prayer are frequently 
allowed to lose their hold on the hearts and habits of 
the people. Week-day and evening meetings, with 
their crowded public engagements, engross attention 
and occupy every waking hour. What follows ? Not 
a few of the Christian workers, deprived of their daily 
opportunities of secret or family prayer, ultimately find 
that while they have been so busy in the harvest field, 
their garden has been well-nigh destroyed by cattle, and 
their homes successfully invaded by thieves. Well 
aware we are that some grave men of routine are such 
sturdy defenders of stated appointments and standing 
rules that they would not hesitate to admit an agent 
of a benevolent society into the pulpit, and permit him 
to interrupt a series of revival sermons by long narra- 
tives and appeals in behalf of his cause. We concur, 
however, with the Rev. Dr. Humphrey, in his letters of 
advice to his own son, when he writes on the exceeding 



EVILS INCIDENT TO TRUE REVIVALS. 107 

importance of a proper timing of subjects : " In certain 
stages of a revival, anything, any subject, aside from 
the work which is going on, may do infinite mischief, 
by being thrust in and crowding out the inquiry, ' What 
must I do to be saved ? ' Certain subjects must be 
brought forward immediately. What, now, if an agent 
were to come and ask you for a Sabbath in the midst 
of the revival ? Would you not say to him, ' Brother, 
I am glad to see you, and if you will lay aside your 
particular object and preach with special reference to 
the state of my congregation, I shall be glad of your 
assistance ; but, if not, you must come again.' ' 

An evangelist of large experience says that he was 
once called home in the midst of a revival in order to 
comfort an aged Christian in his dying hours. On his 
way he met a pious friend, who asked him where he 
was going. When told, he replied, " Did not your 
Master say, ' Let the dead bury their dead ? ' There 
is not another man in the world that can take the work 
where you leave it ; it will suffer." The evangelist 
rejoined : " Once I tarried when called home to a 
funeral, and it gave such offence in the family that had 
been visited by death, that they were never recon- 
ciled to me." Near the close of this life the evangelist 
comments on this incident as follows : " Yet with the 
light I now have, if it were my father that desired me, 
under such circumstances, to leave my work and come 
to him, I could not do it." 

8. Be not wrongly ambitious to add a very large 
number to the church. Inquire, therefore, what your 
motive is in seeking the conversion of sinners. Why 
is it that you are so eagerly desirous to bring certain 
persons into the church ; why you do so wish that you 
may be enabled to report a fixed number of converts 



108 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

on some important occasion. " But may I not err 
more egregiously by exercising an excessive caution ?" 
It is difficult to fix the comparative magnitude of the 
two errors. If we could, they would both be errors 
still. A very zealous revivalist of our acquaintance 
was wont to say that over-cautious preachers were like 
fishermen who refuse to cast forth the net for fear 
they might catch a devil-fish. 

9. Beware of the danger of injuring the reputation 
or hindering the work of the pastor. Time was when 
some revivalists were notorious for their hostility to 
all pastors who would not cheerfully adopt all their 
measures, and when they left behind them a crowd of 
professing converts, that were impudent factions and 
defiant of all authority. The leaders of these were 
young men of more gifts than graces, who had been 
injudiciously put forward to conduct prayer-meetings, 
young people's meetings, and, perhaps, superintend 
Sunday-schools, although they could not teach and 
would not learn. Let both pastors and evangelists 
consider diligently what work can be safely given 
to new converts, :< We ought not," says Bishop 
Mcllvaine, " to take a green sapling and set it up for 
a pillar in the church. The weight would bend it down 
and make its branches grow into the earth." 

10. Another evil is the judging of piety by unsciipt- 
ural rules. In cases not a few, persons who have none 
of those gifts which enable them to shine in revivals 
namely, boldness, fluency, ardor, demonstrative vi- 
vacity — and a loud voice — are suspected of being in an 
apostate or backslidden state ; while many a person of 
sanguine-nervous temperament at such seasons passes 
for an eminent saint dwelling near the gates of the New 
Jerusalem. As the soldier is ever tempted to despise 



EVILS INCIDENT TO TRUE REVIVALS. 109 

every other calling than his own, and all other virtues 
than those which belong to his vocation, so the new 
convert is tempted to regard the revival state of the 
church as its normal one. And, consequently, the 
man who should be slow to begin and cautious in 
proceeding during such a work of grace, would run the 
hazard of being esteemed by him a kind of almost 
Christian. Sometimes full assurance of faith, suddenly 
acquired is the standard by which the intending 
professor is to be tested ; then, again, high feeling or 
a striking experience is the pass of acceptance. 

11. One of the greatest hindrances to a general 
awakening is the manifestation of tlfe want of candor 
and justice, truth and charity, which too often attends 
the prevalence of party spirit. Whether this spirit 
finds fuel in religious or political matters, or in a com- 
bination of both, the result is the same — a quenching 
of the fires of the Holy Spirit. In one instance, where 
the house of worship had been opened for a political 
meeting, an application for the use of the place by the 
opposite party was refused. This act of palpable un- 
fairness made the church very unpopular in the com- 
munity, and alienated a minority of its members to 
such a degree that they did not cordially co-operate in 
the special services. The evangelist, ignorant of the 
real trouble, found his exertions very laborious and of 
little profit. Some forty were reported as converted, 
but they did not show the spiritual animation which 
is usually manifested by souls that have risen to new- 
ness of life. As the result, not one was added to the 
church in whose place of worship the meetings were 
held, although some of the converts resided only a short 
distance from the house. All the converts sought and 
found fellowship in other churches. More frequent 



no REVIVAL SERVICE. 

and familiar are the effects of a partisan spirit when 
it is confined to purely religious questions. As the 
spread of forest fires is often arrested by digging 
ditches, so partisan divisions in churches " quench" 
the advancing flames of the sacred Spirit. They 
quench them by a demarcation, which serves all at 
once and extensively to remove their proper fuel. 

12. Watch against vainglory in publishing accounts 
of the character and extent of the work. Very desir- 
able it often is to publish narratives of revivals. There 
is abundant proof that the divine blessing has many a 
time attended such reports.. But, as far as may be, 
avoid every attempt either to flatter the agents or 
instruments that were employed. The Lord will not 
give His glory to another. 

13. Glide not into a reliance on the means of grace 
rather than upon grace itself. In the midst of a success- 
ful work, in which perhaps the pastor, the evangelist, 
the singers, and other workers have all been instru- 
ments of bringing some to the Saviour, they are liable 
to indulge in the delusion that the power belongs to 
the human agents. " Thus/' says President Wayland, 
" reliance on the Spirit of God is forgotten ; a spirit 
of self-confidence succeeds to a spirit of prayer, and 
God leaves the work in the hands of men. I need not 
say that it immediately ceases." 

14. We are also admonished to take heed lest we in- 
dulge a habit of inconstancy in the religious affections. 
This danger ever attends revivals. How shall we guard 
against it ? The best answer to this question we have 
ever found is given by the Rev. Dr. Sprague in these 
words : " One means of avoiding it is, by endeavoring 
to keep down animal passion, especially in the height 
of the revival, when it is most likely to be awakened. 



EVILS INCIDENT TO TRUE REVIVALS. in 

Another means is to keep up spiritual feeling when the 
general excitement attending a revival begins to pass 
away ; for that is the critical time when religious lan- 
guor usually first begins to creep over the soul." The 
necessity of contending against • this pendulum-like 
tendency will be seen if we consider what will be its 
effect on the new converts when they shall have been 
admitted to the fellowship of the church. No doubt 
one reason why so many of them return to the world 
or wander into doubt, formality, or worldliness, is that 
the church itself has relaxed all its energies and gone 
to sleep. The purpose of all should be to keep up, if 
not the first fervor of zeal, at least the sense of duty 
and the exercise of all the Christian graces ; for these, 
happily, do not depend for their life and energy on 
physical vigor and activity, but on the Holy Spirit of 
God. Thus may the gracious visits of Jesus be 
prolonged — yes, be changed, perhaps, into permanent 
residence ; or, at any rate, His speedy return may be 
expected, provided for, and most warmly welcomed. 

It has been asked, Why may not the pastor hope for 
a perpetual ingathering, such as Richard Baxter en- 
joyed at Kidderminster, John Brown at Haddington, 
Dn Romaine in London, and Edward Payson in Port- 
land ? One means of obtaining this blessed state is 
recommended by the eminent minister last mentioned. 
He says that from the time of his settlement the 
church had set apart one day quarterly for the purpose 
of fasting and prayer. He found no means so much 
blessed to keep religion alive in the church.* 

Some revivals have continued along time. The work 
of awakening grace which began at Cambuslang in 

* Rev. Dr. Sprague's " Lectures on Revivals," appendix, p. 298. 



112 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

1742 spread to other parts of Scotland, and prevailed 
for eight years ; and the revival which appeared at 
Stewarton in 1625, and ended not until 1630, was, 
during those five years, according to the testimony of 
Fleming, like a spreading stream, increasing as it flows, 
and fertilizing all within its reach." 

But still we need that wisdom which is from above, 
to apprehend not only when a special work of regener- 
ation has begun, but also when it has come to an end. 

Those who quickly find out when the genuine work 
commences will as readily ascertain when it has 
finished its course. Elisha evinced his spiritual dis- 
cernment as clearly when Eljiah first visited him, as 
when he saw him on fiery wheels ride up behind the 
clouds. Had he failed to look through the dust of the 
whirlwind and see the ascension of Eljiah, he would 
not have inherited his mantle. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

FEEDING THE LAMBS OF THE FLOCK. 

This duty sometimes neglected — Themes useful for close of special 
services — Mere intellectual improvement of secondary importance 
— Charles Simeon's testimony — The prejudices of young converts 
— The pastor's relation to meetings of young people— Juvenile 
influence in ecclesiastical affairs. 

By this we mean the teaching and training of the new 
converts, whether young, mature, or aged. Nothing 
has ot late given us more concern than to observe with 
what indifference this duty is often regarded. Instead 
of organizing the converts into bands of Christian 
workers, converts' Bible-classes, meetings for the study 
of the Catechism or Articles of Faith, and other forms 
of instruction and service, perhaps the pastor either 
returns to his former habit of preaching to advanced 
Christians or takes a long vacation, during which, from 
motives of economy or benevolence, a variety of cheap 
supplies, or else some theological student is engaged ; 
consequently both sheep and lambs are for a consider- 
able time poorly fed, or left to wander without a fold 
and without an under-shepherd. This, too, is very apt 
to happen during those few months following a re- 
vival, wherein the lambs are exposed to great tempta- 
tions and spiritual dangers. 

Our space denies us the privilege of treating this 
theme with any particularity. But in the selection of 
themes, texts, and outlines, we have not omitted any 
that appeared profitable either for the close ot revival 



114 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

seasons or for the subsequent instruction of the new- 
converts. We have not thought it worth while here 
to attempt to give the texts, subjects, and outlines of 
series of discourses to young converts, the delivery of 
which would demand a considerable time. Materials 
for these are, happily, not far to seek. They may be 
found in the Rev. Dr. Sprague's " Lectures on 
Revivals," lecture vii. ; " Revival Sketches and 
Manual," by Rev. Dr. Humphrey, pp. 303-424; the 
Rev. Dr. Kirk's " Lectures on Revivals," pp. 299- 
322 ; Rev. Dr. J. V. Watson s " Helps to the Promo- 
tion of Revivals," chapters vii., xii. ; Rev. Dr. James 
Porter's " Revivals of Religion," chapter x. ; Rev. 
Dr. H. C. Fish's " Handbook of Revivals," chapter 
xvii. ; Elder Jacob Knapp's " Autobiography, " pp. 
222-227. 

The various tract and publication societies issue ap- 
propriate advice and direction to new converts. The 
pastor that does not supply them with these, or some- 
thing better of his own composition, really ought to 
question whether he be not exposing the lambs of his 
flock to much needless sin and sorrow r . 

In cases where the converts are perhaps below the 
average in intellectual education, the young pastor will 
be tempted to organize some association whose object 
is to improve their minds. We say " tempted ;" for 
in all such cases the first real demand will be for direct 
moral and spiritual training and growth. Let it be 
his aim, therefore, to form their graces rather than 
their gifts. If, on the contrary, he aim to make the 
church a school for the intellect, though he may add 
to the splendor, he will not increase the inward riches 
ot the church. The windows of the sacred edifice may 
blaze, not because they are illuminated from within, 



FEEDING THE LAMBS OF THE FLOCK. 115 

but because they reflect the cold light of the setting 
sun. 

Even when the real purpose of a young converts' 
meeting is moral and spiritual improvement, it is still 
exposed to evils that are alike dangerous to itself and 
to the church. The object, although a good one, may 
be defeated by side-issues, ulterior ends, bad manage- 
ment, or other such means. What the Rev. Charles 
Simeon* said of the " private societies'' he set on foot 
at Cambridge will in part apply to these young people's 
meetings : " Great care should be taken about the 
manner of conducting them. The people should 
never, \i it can be avoided, be left to themselves ; the 
moment they are, there is danger of an unhallowed 
kind of emulation rising up among them ; and those 
who by reason of their natural forwardness are most 
unfit to lead will always obtrude themselves as leaders 
among them ; while the modest and timid will be dis- 
couraged because they cannot exercise those gifts 
which they behold in others. On such occasions, too, 
the vain and conceited will be peculiarly gratified, 
and, mistaking the gratifications of vanity for truly 
spiritual emotions, they will attach a pre-eminent 
importance to those opportunities which tend to dis- 
play their talents, and they will begin to entertain low 
thoughts of their own minister, whose labors do not 
afford them the same pleasure." Or, if they have been 
converted under the ministry of an evangelist, they will 
perhaps set up his peculiar views, or his sermons, and 
his methods of procedure as standards by which to 
test the labors of their pastor, after the season of in- 
gathering has passed away. If the pastor himself 

* " Memoirs," chap, xiii., near the end. 



n6 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

has been the instrument of converting them, they will 
exhibit the same partialities toward him and the same 
prejudices against his successor in the pastorate, and 
all other ministers of the Gospel. Mayhap some young 
man, possessed of more gifts than graces, will put him- 
self forward, and, gaining many admirers, will use his 
influence against all ministers except his idol, or all the 
members of the church except the young people. Some 
of these evils may possibly be avoided by providing a 
number of leaders, who shall serve in succession, by 
securing the attendance of the pastor, or other persons 
of " light and leading." These ought to aim to make 
the meetings at once more instructive and more 
sociable, more cheerful and yet more true to the great 
object of the institution. But if the young people are 
left to themselves, they forget the allegiance they owe 
to their pastor and to the church ; they form a party 
composed of the younger members of the church ; they 
show a childish and even a babyish petulance when- 
ever their way concerning pastors and teachers does 
not prevail. Children govern their fathers, well-reg- 
ulated families vanish from the church, and a pros- 
elyting spirit takes the place of Christian morality and 
evangelical piety. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

SHALL WE JOIN THE REAPERS OR NOT? 

Taking counsel of our fears — First-rate pulpit orators not absolutely- 
necessary in this kind of service — The example of Wesley, Ed- 
wards, and others — Extemporaneous sermons not indispensable 
— Example of Davies, Lyman Beecher, and others — Natural ardor 
has its drawbacks — Evangelistic success not limited to young 
preachers — Youth not always a disadvantage — Waiting for calls 
and indications — A general interest in a church or community not 
to be expected at the outset — Times of declension and perse- 
cution should not discourage pastors and evangelists — A parable. 

We propose in this chapter to address a few words 
of cheer and hope to such pastors and evangelists as 
are inclined to take counsel of their fears. 

More than a few young preachers and pastors are 
reluctant to engage in this work from a fear that they 
have not such natural or acquired endowments as they 
imagine to be necessary to evangelistic usefulness. 
Should any such happen to read these pages, let 
them remember that in every age it has pleased the 
Lord to choose and honor the most unpromising in- 
struments, and often disappoint alike the fears of the 
timid and the ardent expectations of the wise. Moses, 
Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and the twelve fisher- 
men were, in human judgment, the most unlikely 
messengers of the Lord. Man's wisdom would have 
said that they were the wrong men in the wrong place. 
Look at John Wesley, small of stature, unemotional, 
and with no powerful and commanding voice, yet one 
of the appointed leaders of the new reformation in 
England. Look at Jonathan Edwards, a man of 



n8 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

reserved and scholarly habits, and in preaching tied to 
his manuscript, never visiting his people from house to 
house, and yet blessed as scarcely any. other preacher 
in America as a revivalist and an historian of the work 
the Lord was pleased to accomplish through him. 
Look at Samuel Buell, the humble pastor at East 
Hampton, Long Island, New York, a man of great 
natural reserve, who spent but little time in social in- 
tercourse with his people, preaching very long sermons, 
drawing his subjects from the Scriptures rather than 
from his observations among his flock, and yet mighty 
as a revivalist, and according to the judgment of one 
eminent contemporary, Dr. Stiles, President of Yale 
College, " he had done more good than any other man 
that ever stood on the continent"' — a man who has 
left a narrative of the awakening of which he was chiefly 
instrumental second only to that of President Edwards 
in value and attractiveness. The first great revival that 
blessed Ulster, in Ireland, began under the ministry of 
one of the least gifted of the Scottish preachers, the 
Rev. James Glendinning. He was settled at Oldstone, 
near Antrim. Previously he was minister at Car- 
rickfergus, but acting on the advice of the famous 
Robert Blair, he removed to a less conspicuous sphere. 
Yet was he the instrument of awakening multitudes, 
especially on the banks of the river Six-Mile Water, 
and thus of preparing the way for the ingathering of 
, souls under the preaching of Blair and Livingstone. 
" He was," it is said, " a man who never would have 
been chosen by a wise assembly of ministers, nor sent 
to commence a reformation in Ulster. Yet this was 
the Lord's choice to begin with him the admirable 
"work of God, which I mention on purpose that all may 
see how the glory is only the Lord's in making a holy 



SHALL WE JOIN THE REAPERS OR NOT ? 119 

nation in this profane land, and that it was not by 
might nor by power, nor by man's wisdom, but by my 
Spirit, saith the Lord."* 

Look at William McCulloch, of Cambuslang, near 
Glasgow, in Scotland, whose published sermons are no 
way distinguished either for eloquence or unction. 
" He was not," says his son, " a very ready speaker ; 
. . . his manner was slow and cautious — very different 
from that of popular orators." His parish was small, 
containing only about nine hundred persons. But still 
he was greatly honored as a revivalist. During the year 
1742 no fewer than four hundred souls were added to the 
church, and these all continued faithful to the time of 
their death. True it is that he had the assistance of 
Whitefield, but the number given does not include such 
as were awakened under the sermons of this prince 
of evangelistic preachers. 

It is a delusion current in some sections of Christen- 
dom that none but extemporaneous preaching is owned 
by the Divine Spirit. One consequence of this false 
opinion has been that some young men who cannot 
extemporize have imagined that they must be power- 
less in revivals. Let this error be corrected. Ed- 
wards and Davies, Buell, Griffin, Lyman Beecher, and 
not a few other great revivalists, wrote and read their 
sermons. John Wesley was converted by listening to 
the reading of Martin Luther's preface to the Epistle 
to the Romans, in a little meeting of Moravians in 
London. The writer, while travelling in Virginia many 
years ago, heard a sermon that had been carefully 
written by the pastor from beginning to end, and was 



* Rev. Prof. William Gibson's " History of the Revival in Ireland 
in 1859." The work is entitled " The Year of Grace," pp. 21, 22. 



120 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

read word for word. Though this pastor was sur- 
rounded by extemporizers, and the tide of public 
opinion ran strongly against written sermons, yet he 
had been blessed during the previous year with a 
greater number of converts than any other pastor in 
that part of the State. Be it kept in mind that we are 
not here discussing the general question, but only try- 
ing to encourage in the work of the Lord those 3'oung 
preachers that either cannot preach extempore or 
bring their consciences to consent that they may adopt 
such a manner of speaking in the cause of the Lord. 

Another mistake is that none but men of natural 
ardor can achieve any desirable results in revival meet- 
ings. Doubtless there is a certain measure of truth in 
the Rev. Richard Cecil's maxim that that " the warm 
blundering man" will do more than the " cold correct 
man." Not seldom are these qualities thus associated 
in ministers of the Word ; and yet they may be, and 
sometimes are, found apart ; or rather the warm and 
correct may be blended in the same character. Now 
it seems to us that the man of this latter kind of 
composition will, in the long run, be found to be the 
most successful evangelist. President Edwards, we 
are aware, sets the very highest estimate on zeal and 
resolution. Why ? It is because he finds them con- 
spicuous traits in Whiteneld, whom he regarded as the 
pattern of all evangelists. True it is that these virtues 
ought to be strong and active in men that are called 
to such public service, but unless they are counter- 
balanced, as they were in Whitefield, by prudence and 
by that self-command which, as Southey says, he always 
possessed in public, they will often do an amount of 
mischief which their mere effectiveness and popular at- 
tractions fail either to neutralize or to remove. 



SHALL WE JOLN THE REAPERS OR NOT? 121 

And this leads us to notice the error of those who, 
whether pastors or aged evangelists, imagine that they 
are too far advanced in life to succeed in this kind 
of ministerial work. The young, say they, have the 
vigor, push, and enterprise that are here requisite to 
acceptance and success. This we admit, so far as 
regards large popularity and immediate and splendid 
appearances of success. But for real service and 
thorough work, for sound conversions and full restora- 
tions such as do verily build up, unite, and permanently 
enlarge a church, commend us to men of venerable 
years and large experience — men that have learned 
something from the errors of their earlier ministry, as 
well as from their more extended experience, read- 
ing, observation, and reflection. Speed is not always 
progress. Davenport in New England and Marshall 
in Kentucky in later years publicly confessed the great 
errors and wrongs into which the mad and misguided 
zeal of their earlier years had betrayed them. And 
neither Wesley nor Whitefield in their later and better 
years could look back with a smile on the errors in 
doctrine and transgressions in spirit which sincere piety 
and a college training could not prevent, while the 
enthusiasm of youth and the applause of the people 
drove them forward, as before a favoring gale and tide. 
Even Jonathan Edwards, a man by nature diffident 
and cautious, confesses * that the calamities which 
ultimately came upon the church at Northampton 
were to be attributed, in part, to his youth and in- 
experience at the time of the famous awakening in that 



* Read "his remarkable letter to Gillespie of Scotland in 1751, six- 
teen years after the great revival. It is in " The Great Awakening," 
by the Rev. Joseph Tracy, p. 403. 



122 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

town. " Instead of youth," says he, " there was want 
of a giant in judgment and discretion among a people 
in such an extraordinary state of things." Christian 
biography abounds in instances of aged pastors and 
evangelists who have, with the help of the Holy Ghost, 
achieved their greatest successes near the close of life. 
Mr. Robe labored in the parish of Kilsyth thirty years 
before he saw the great revival of 1742. 

But still the young preacher should not construe 
what we have said for the encouragement of the old as 
a discouragement for himself. Let him not say with 
Jeremiah, " I am a child ; I am small and despised." 
Both Wesley and Whitefield began their evangelistic 
career very early in life, and although their youth 
betrayed them into some blunders, these were as 
nothing when compared with what they achieved in 
44 the new reformation." John Livingstone, who was 
so wonderfully assisted in preaching in the churchyard 
at Shotts, on Monday, June 21st, 1630, was only 
twenty-seven years of age, and not yet ordained. 
When he was alone in the fields on the morning 
before service, there came upon him, we are told, 
such a misgiving, under a sense of unworthiness and 
unfitness to speak before so many aged and worthy 
ministers and eminent and experienced Christians, 
considering also the multitude and expectation of the 
people, that he was thinking of stealing away, and had 
actually gone to some distance, and was just about to 
lose sight of the kirk, when the words, " Was I ever a 
barren wilderness, or a land of darkness?" were 
brought to his mind with such an overcoming power as 
constrained him to think it his duty to return and 
comply with the call to preach. To confirm his reluc- 
tance, it had not been customary to have preaching 



SHALL WE JOLN THE REAPERS OR NOT ? 123 

on Mondays after communions. And yet some five 
hundred persons were converted, principally by means 
of this sermon. Nor did the work cease on that day. 
" It was," says Mr. Fleming, " the sowing of a seed 
through Clydesdale, so that many of the most eminent 
Christians in that country could date either their con- 
version or some remarkable confirmation from it." 

Many and various are the excuses of the pastor for 
delaying the work of reaping and ingathering. 

Often he fears that in immediately setting about the 
work of awakening, he may not be following the lead- 
ings of the Spirit and of Providence. " In my early 
revival efforts," says an aged evangelist, " I used to 
be accused of getting ahead of God ; and was often 
told that I should wait for God to begin the work ; 
then take hold." His reply to such words was: 
" My Master always sent men ahead of Him. He sent 
His disciples two and two into all the cities whither 
He Himself would come." 

Again, he may conclude that he ought not to move 
toward any service of this kind until there is a very 
general demand for extra meetings and revival preach- 
ing. History proves that almost all great awakenings 
begin with one or two persons ; and that, in no case, 
does the evangelist have the unanimous co-operation 
of the church until the time for receiving the new 
converts into fellowship has arrived. But let him 
remember that Gideon won a great victory with about 
a hundredth part of his original army, and that jabin's 
host with nine hundred chariots of iron was vanquished 
by the fighting men of the two tribes of Zebulun and 
Naphtali. 

Some revivalists attempt no new work in the summer- 
time. It can be shown, however, that from the days 



124 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

of Jonah until now there have been mighty works of 
grace in very warm weather. 

There are periods in the life of almost every evange- 
list when it appears either as if a voice from Heaven 
bade him retire from the service, or as if, because of the 
dead-alive state of the churches from which he has 
repeatedly failed to arouse them, it were better for him 
to abandon the Gospel ministry forever. But let him 
remember that the seasons which threaten to ex- 
tinguish hope are almost always brief and apt to be 
followed by times which call for joy and rejoicing. 
Just before a storm the heavens often darken, as they 
do when the sun is in a total eclipse. The dust ris- 
ing along the streets whirls into the eyes of the 
travellers, and joins with the darkness in saying to 
him : Go not forward, but hasten to the nearest shelter. 

Mayhap he has seen his exertions in revivals 
hindered or arrested by local controversies, or the 
adversaries of revivals. It may be that Satan has 
stirred up the religious press to calumniate him or mis- 
represent the nature or extent of his services ; or else 
rival editors, like Samson's foxes, have dragged torches 
of discord everywhere, and produced a general confla- 
gration over vast fields that were a little before waving 
their golden grain in the summer breeze, as if to invite 
the reapers to cut and bind and stack. Amid such 
dark days let the evangelist consider that either to leave 
the ministry or to do the work of an evangelist is not 
his only alternative. Possibly the Lord would have 
him for a season do pastoral work. On the other hand, 
let not a pastor allow himself to leave his flock for any 
promise of gain. By way of warning to such, the writer 
makes the following parable : A shepherd boy of small 
experience was one day leading his little flock near the 



SHALL WE JOIN THE REAPERS OR NOT ? 125 

entrance of a mountain cavern. He had been told 
that precious stones had often been discovered in 
such places. He was, therefore, tempted to leave his 
charge and turn aside to explore the dark recesses of 
the cavern. He began to crawl in, but as he proceeded 
his face took on a veil of cobwebs, and his hands mit- 
tens of mud. He had not gone far when he saw two 
gems of a ruby glow lying near each other. He put 
forth his eager fingers to seize them, when a serpent 
bit him. In pain and fear he crawled quickly back to 
the light of day, and ran home to the chief shepherd 
to obtain some remedy for the bite. The good man, 
who was also his elder brother, sucked the poison from 
the wound, and applied to it a healing balm. Never 
afterward did that shepherd covet the treasures which 
may lie concealed behind mountain rocks. 



CHAPTER XX. 

WAITING FOR POWER FROM ON HIGH. 

Scripture view of the subject — How this power was manifested — Min- 
isterial success does not depend wholly on Christian experience — 
Preaching the true Gospel of prime importance— Retreats and 
ten-day prayer-meetings — St. Paul's weakness in its relation to 
divine power. 

It is the belief of evangelists not a few that in order 
to do the most faithful and efficient service, they must 
needs be invested with the power of the Holy Spirit. 
By this " power" they understand something very 
different from sanctifying grace, although some of 
them consider it as inseparable from Christian faith, 
love, peace, and joy. If at any time they are conscious 
that they have it not, they wait for it in prayer, 
fasting, and study of the Scriptures, believing that, in 
some sense, they are bound to heed the command of 
Jesus to His disciples found in Luke 24 : 49. They 
do not, however, hold that this investiture of power 
is confined to themselves as evangelists, but is to be 
sought and obtained by pastors and all Christians 
who are called to active service in every sphere of 
usefulness. Nor do they believe that, once endued 
with this divine energy, it abides with them as a per- 
manent force ; it may forsake them ; and as the scene 
of Pentecost was, as they think, repeated (see Acts 
4 : 31), so they are to seek for themselves and others 
new investitures of power. 

Now, without accepting all the beliefs of all these 
beloved brethren (for they differ much among them- 



WAITING FOR POWER FROM ON HIGH. 127 

selves), we do certainly learn from Holy Scripture that 
there is such an enduement or anointing or fulness of 
the Divine Spirit as prepares Christians for exertion 
and endeavor (see Luke 24 : 49 ; Acts 1 : 8 ; 1 Cor. 
2:452 Cor. 12 : 9). And this power is said to be 
not only upon them, but in them (Acts 2:4, 4:31; 
Col. 1 : 29 ; Eph. 3 : 16). It also enabled holy men not 
only to act but to speak for Christ (Acts 4 : 33), and to 
celebrate the praises of the Lord (Acts 2 : 4, 12). 
Nor was this power or dynamis merely the gift of work- 
ing miracles ; the apostles wrought no miracles, except 
speaking with tongues on the day of Pentecost, and 
although John the Baptist is said to have gone before 
the face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, 
and to have been filled with the Holy Ghost from his 
birth (Luke 1 115), yet he did not, like the old Hebrew 
prophet, perform any miracle (John 10 : 41) ; he was 
moved by that power to herald the Messiah, to prepare 
the way for Him by preaching repentance, and to 
point Him out as the sin-atoning Lamb of God. But 
still this power is sometimes put in opposition to mere 
words and forms (1 Cor. 4 : 19, 20 ; 1 Thes. 1:5; 
2 Tim. 3 : 5). It is perhaps best rendered force, a 
word which is now popularly used to designate power 
applied and exerted. 

The import of the word is not very unlike that which 
is employed to convey the idea of the fulness of the 
Divine Spirit. Whenever the primitive disciples are 
said to be filled with the Holy Ghost, they either say or 
do something accordingly. The being filled is put, by 
synecdoche, for overflowing.* 

* See " System of Christian Rhetoric," by G. W. Hervey, for a 
more extended discussion of the Greek terms rendered power, au- 
thority, liberty, and fu/ness, pp. 52, 54, 55, 57-61. 



128 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The evidence, therefore, of this fulness or force is 
not merely in an inward experience, but in words and 
actions as well. Some evangelists of high distinction 
teach that the best proofs of the presence of this power 
are Christian love, peace, and joy, and maintain that 
unless the preacher has these he ought not to expect 
that many conversions will attend his ministry. Our 
narrow limits forbid us to discuss this opinion with 
thoroughness. In support of it the 13th chapter of 
I Cor. is cited ; but this only favors the fact that unless 
a preacher has Christian love his ministrations are 
totally unprofitable to his own soul. The apostle 
does not say that the prophesying of the man that is 
devoid of charity is of necessity unprofitable to his 
hearers ; if he did say so, he would make it difficult 
for us to understand how he could rejoice that the 
Gospel is preached even through envy and strife (Phil. 
1:15; Matt. 23 : 13). Much as the Christian graces 
must ever enhance the preacher's efficiency, we know 
of nothing that can prevent souls from being converted 
through his sermons, but his failure to preach the 
Gospel as it is given to us in the New Testament. 
Very deplorable it is that any should perish through 
the neglect of the heralds of salvation to deliver them 
proper messages ; but in this case our sadness is 
lessened by the reflection that it is possible for most 
hearers to search the Scriptures to ascertain for 
themselves what the true Gospel is. If, however, the 
salvation of any large numbers were to depend on the 
Christian graces of their preachers, it would cast 
another cloud over the origin of evil, and cause us to 
wonder how it could be consistent with the divine 
goodness to permit souls to be lost because they could 
not ascertain (what no mortal can ascertain to a dead 



WAITING FOR POWER FROM ON HIGH. 129 

certainty) whether their preacher possessed or not the 
graces of the Spirit, especially the greatest of these, 
which is charity. To speak the truth in love is of no 
small importance ; but to speak the truth is absolutely 
necessary. 

Some of the evangelists whose opinions concerning 
the power of the Holy Spirit we have just examined, 
have reduced them to consistent practice by holding 
prayer-meetings for ten days every year, in supposed 
imitation of the primitive disciples. Does the reader 
ask, Shall I join these good brethren in their annual 
quest of fresh supplies of power ? We reply, If you 
are compelled to serve the Lord publicly throughout 
the year, it is probable that it would be better for you 
to spend ten days in prayer and fasting at home in 
your secret chamber. Besides, the Book of Acts affords 
no proof that the ten days' prayer-meeting was ever 
repeated, or that the scenes of the Pentecost were 
ever fully acted again. The history of the Protes- 
tant Reformation is silent on the subject ; but it is 
well to remember that the Romish priests have their 
" retreats," and that Jesuitism began in a pretended 
repetition of the Pentecost. The traveller finds among 
Papists engravings in which Loyola and his com- 
panions are represented as receiving on their heads 
cloven tongues of fire. Let no one say that we deny 
the necessity of receiving this power. Nor let us 
be accused of judging any servant of our common 
Master. The statements we make are based upon 
historic facts, without whose lessons this manual would 
lose its peculiar value. Strong is our attachment to 
the wise and good brethren who readily observe these 
annual seasons of prayer ; and we are confident that 
they will not understand us as intending to make any 



130 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

invidious comparisons, but only to warn them of a 
possible danger. 

To resort to these gatherings is the privilege of but 
comparatively few. Let not any of these permit them- 
selves to fancy that they have received a power that 
has been denied to those who have been compelled to 
confine themselves to the use of the common and old- 
time means of grace. The disciples of Mahomet have 
this proverb : " Beware of the man that has been to 
Mecca." We would rather say, " Let such a man be- 
ware of himself." Here the apostle Paul once more 
comes to our aid. We find (2 Cor. 11 and 12) that the 
exceeding greatness of the revelations he had received 
was perilous to his humility ; so much so indeed that a 
thorn or stake in the flesh must needs be given to him, 
lest he should be exalted overmuch. Hence he took 
pleasure, not in his visions and revelations, but gloried 
rather in the weak points of his character — his doubts, 
fears, and injuries. Why ? Because the Lord had said 
to him, V My power is made perfect in weakness." 
" Most gladly, therefore," adds he, " will I rather glory 
in my weaknesses that the strength of Christ may rest 
upon me, .... for when I am weak, then am I 
strong." Less profitable was it to him to remember 
how he was caught up to Paradise than how he made 
his escape from Damascus by being let down through 
a window in a basket by the wall. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

THE TEMPTATIONS TO WHICH EVANGELISTS ARE 
EXPOSED. 

These temptations enumerated — Safeguards and encouragements — 
Example of Elijah and Jeremiah— The influence of party spirit 
— False and true revivals — Historic illustrations — Need of discern- 
ment and discrimination — The Lord limits and overrules very 
imperfect means and instruments. 

The history of revivals proves that evangelists are 
exposed to peculiar temptations. A few of these it 
may, for the purposes of self-examination, be here in 
order mentioned : 

1. A tendency to consider evangelistic labors and 
the conversion of souls as the principal work and object 
of a church. Very naturally, therefore, the evangelist 
is inclined more and more to neglect those parts of 
Scripture which remind him and others of the neces- 
sity of glorifying Christ in all things, especially in all 
the requirements of Christian ethics. 

2. A tendency to overvalue, in comparison of other 
parts of Scripture, those parts which have been found 
to be the most fruitful in immediate practical results. 

3. An inclination to judge rashly of those who do 
not adopt our views and methods of doing good. 

4. The danger of becoming proud, vain, and ar- 
rogant. Even Whitefield confesses that he was some- 
times " puffed up" with success. 

5. Exposure to the sins which attend rivalry, such 
as intrusiveness and a proselyting spirit. Intense sec- 
tarianism is the source of many a spurious revival. 



132 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

6. A liability to a zeal that makes one blind to the 
difference between right and wrong as well as good and 
bad motives. 

7. A temptation to gain advantages either by con- 
senting to measures which we ought to condemn, or 
else by usurping authority that belongs to other men. 

8. A leaning toward egotism rather than self-ob- 
livion, so that narratives which are told to illustrate a 
subject, come to be rather illustrations of our own 
excellences and achievements. 

9. Giving way to an ardor that is ever rising into 
exaggerations. We paint in fresco, and larger than 
life ; our flock of geese grows rapidly in numbers, and 
promises to become all swans. 

10. A readiness to live on the popular breath, and to 
find our happiness the excitements of the " madding 
crowd." 

11. A bending toward the general tone and drift in 
a time of great and prevailing revivals ; taking it for 
granted that what is commonly thought " the thing" 
is wisest and best ; and so perhaps " taking the vane 
for the compass." 

12. An undue reliance on our own experience, judg- 
ment, skill, or resources, rather than on that Supreme 
One, who can, as the old Puritan said, save either by 
means or without means — yes, and contrary to means. 

13. A falling into formality and unfeeling routine. 
As we cannot first preach this class of subjects to 
ourselves, except by recalling our early experiences, we 
are without one of the safeguards which they may have 
who are occupied in ordinary pastoral preaching. 

To these and such-like dangers the evangelist is ever 
exposed ; and, what is worse, it is necessary to convince 
him that they exist. His enemies are so false and 



EVANGELISTS' TEMPTATIONS. 133 

calumnious that he gives no heed to them, even when 
they speak the truth. His new-found friends, the 
converts, the reclaimed, and grateful pastors and flocks 
think it becomes them to use only words of approval 
and encouragement. Occasional hearers, however 
impartial, think their acquaintance with him too slight 
to allow them the liberty of admonition. What is he 
to do ? His safety is in solitude and self-examination. 
Let him, therefore, seek occasional retirement, like 
Elijah by the brook Cherith, or Ezekiel at the river 
Chebar, or our Lord Himself among the crags and 
trees of the distant mountain. 

In this retirement he should rather foster a spirit of 
gratitude and thanksgiving, than indulge in vain 
regrets, brood over disappointments, and murmur at 
the allotments of his Divine Master. Many an evan- 
gelist in his retreat is brought into sympathy with 
Elijah in his despair as he sat down under the juniper 
tree, as he journeyed forty days through the desert, 
and as he lodged in the cave on Mount Horeb ; or with 
Jonah, when, at the end of the great revival in 
Nineveh, he went and sat down on the east side of the 
city, repining at that divine mercy which seemed to 
impeach his own sincerity. In such trials of faith we 
shall find instruction in the example of Jeremiah, who, 
in the 119th Psalm, * seeks remedies for all the troubles 
of his soul and the hardships of his service in prayer to 
God and in the study of His oracles. 

Nor should we overlook, at such seasons, the subtle 

* This psalm affords much internal evidence of having been written 
by Jeremiah. We have not space here to discuss this subject with 
adequate fulness. It is, however, but right that the young student 
should know that this is still an open question among biblical 
scholars, most of whom seem to have failed to examine it. 



134 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

influence of party spirit. It will be well for us if we 
detect no traces of it in ourselves, or in some of those 
whom we may have gathered into churches. The 
church or pastor that has been calumniated or treated 
with glaring injustice is ever in peril from such a public 
reaction as will draw too many over to the persecuted 
cause. It is much to be deplored that party spirit 
alone may suffice to drive young persons not a few to 
offer themselves for admission to the church whose 
cause they have espoused. Not knowing what spirit 
they are of, they imagine that their new zeal in behalf 
of justice and fair-dealing is of divine origin. If evan- 
gelists do not guard against party spirit, they will only 
help to fill some churches with mere disputers and 
anarchists. 

There are false revivals as well as true ; and it is 
astonishing, if not frightful, to trace the close re- 
semblances of the two. Thus, years of national ad- 
versity have often been friendly to the work of evan- 
gelistic conversion ; but, unhappily, such years have 
too often been marked by corresponding triumphs of 
fanaticism and superstition. The far-spreading panic 
of 1857 in the United States drove many thousands 
to prayer, and so to the Prince of Peace ; but events 
proved that, in cases not a few, there was no waking 
to righteousness, no change of heart, no reformation 
of life ; while throngs of ignorant but ardent souls were 
swept by the general excitement into religious error and 
delusion. The desolation and misery caused by the 
French Revolution and the wars of the first Napoleon 
prepared the way for revivals in Switzerland, France, 
and Spain. The result was that multitudes went back 
to the idolatries and lies of the dark ages, although a 



EVANGELISTS' TEMPTATIONS. , 135 

considerable number were really converted, through the 
preaching of Felix Neff and other Protestant evange- 
lists. To go still farther back, the incalculable loss of 
life which the wars of Charles V. and Philip II. brought 
upon Spain drove the mourning survivors to the conso- 
lations of religion, and yet in their blind desperation 
they sought comfort in the false teachings of the 
Jesuits and the wild raptures and visionary pleasures 
of Santa Theresa. 

In addition to this, it is to be remembered that false 
men may be used as instruments in a true revival. 
They may preach with saving effect so long as they 
preach the veritable Gospel of our salvation. The 
apostle Paul avowed that in his day some preached 
the Gospel from bad motives, but he rejoiced that, 
from whatever motive, the Gospel was still preached. 

It must be conceded, moreover, that teachers of 
false doctrine have been successful in helping to bring 
about true revivals. How ? In this way : they have 
during the progress of the popular movement held in 
abeyance their heresies, and urged such motives only 
as were drawn from true doctrine, or else, confining 
themselves to those topics of persuasion which do not 
involve any article of faith, they have reserved for the 
close of the revival, and the more quiet instruction of 
the young converts, the inculcation of their unscriqt- 
ural opinions. 

For the rest, it must likewise be admitted that the 
most unreasonable and disorderly measures have not 
always availed to prevent a true awakening. At the 
call of the Son of God, Lazarus has come forth in spite 
of every obstacle and impediment. 

One of the great fallacies of to-day is to conclude 



136 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

that because the effect is good, therefore the men and 
their teachings and their measures are good. We 
forget that God often causes much good to be done 
through bad instruments, which He only permits and 
overrules. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

THE RELATIONS OF THE PASTOR AND THE 
EVANGELIST. 

The primitive evangelist — The independence of the evangelist — The 
shepherd's dog — Necessity of fraternal co-operation — Former pre- 
judices disappearing — The ox and the ass — Sowing and reaping — 
Some knew their master, others only his crib — Pastors who have 
been blessed with great revivals— The shepherd and the Alpine 
guide. 

The primitive work of the evangelist was that of a 
travelling missionary, but acting independently of any 
human authority. Thus the evangelist Philip left 
Jerusalem and went and preached in Samaria, not be- 
cause he was commanded by the apostles to do so, but 
because he was forced out of Jerusalem by persecu- 
tion ; and when he departed from Samaria and made 
for the track of the caravans that moved between 
Jerusalem and Gaza, it was at the bidding, not of an 
apostle, but of "the angel of the Lord." Likewise, 
after he had baptized the eunuch he was caught away 
by the Spirit of the Lord and led to Azotus. 

In the list of the officers of the primitive church 
evangelists are placed in the midst, after " apostles 
and prophets," and before "pastors and teachers," 
not, as we suppose, to indicate official rank, but 
merely order of service ; for one man might hold two 
or more offices : Philip was deacon as well as evange- 
list, and Timothy was to do the work of an evangelist, 
although he was a pastor. But this is not the place to 
discuss questions which have so often engaged the at- 



138 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

tention of learned professors. Taking it for granted 
that the evangelist of to-day is essentially the evange- 
list of the first Christian age, we proceed to offer a 
few suggestions about his co-operation with pastors. 
Some evangelists take no small pains to declare that 
they serve in subordination to the pastor as his helper. 
Most certainly ought the evangelist to afford assistance 
to the pastor, and to act in the light of his peculiar 
knowledge and of the wisdom which he has derived 
from his own observation and experience. But in re- 
spect of his own work, the evangelist cannot safely be 
in subjection to any man or body of men. In his own 
sphere he must lead, as all candid men will confess. 
There are, indeed, Christian workers who are chiefly 
useful in exhortation and prayer, and in visiting from 
house to house. They sometimes go so far as to 
expound the Scriptures, but do not attempt to preach. 
Men of this class are in great request among certain 
churches, for the reason that they never provoke the 
envy or the jealousy of pastors, and seldom wound the 
hearts and consciences of their people. One excellent 
laborer of this description used to style himself " the 
shepherd's dog." And untiringly did he hunt after 
the stray sheep over mountains and through valleys. 
But such men are not of that class of evangelists which 
is now under consideration — men of persuasive gifts — 
men " of light and leading" in times of religious excite- 
ment — men whose tact and prudence, foresight and in- 
sight are never at their best except in seasons of 
refreshing from the presence of the Lord. For such 
men to surrender their judgment to the pastor in 
matters which belong to their own province were to 
imperil the most precious interests and to do incalcu- 
lable damage. 



PASTOR AND EVANGELIST. 139 

Here the question to be determined is not one of 
precedence. We commence with the opinion that 
the evangelist and the pastor are to work together on 
the footing of fraternal equality. They are to believe 
in each other ; they are to bear with each other ; they 
are to be frank to each other ; they will be so cordially 
intent on helping each other, that they will be very 
slow to detect any interference, and slower still to 
desire any. In most cases the danger lies in another 
direction. The pastor reposes such confidence in the 
evangelist as to commit to the latter almost all the 
work. ' Pastoral visitation, which ought now to be more 
active than usual, is perhaps totally neglected ; and 
private interviews with members of his congregation 
concerning their spiritual welfare are less sought than 
ever. Indeed, the labors of the evangelist are re- 
garded as a substitute for his own. He considers 
himself released from customary cares. He is, perhaps, 
in readiness for an occasional prayer or hymn or exhor- 
tation, but from any other service he is apt to excuse 
himself. We are glad to believe, however, that pastors 
of this character are few, and that some of these are 
weary and sick from excessive toil or affliction. 

It is a good omen that pastors and evangelists are 
understanding each other better, and are speaking 
more charitably of each other than they did in former 
days. The acrimonious chapters in the history of 
revivals are not likely to be repeated. Henceforth 
the sowers and the reapers may be expected to rejoice 
together. Even Wesley in his Journal deprecates the 
then too common practice of publicly censuring the 
Anglican clergy, and declares that he never saw any 
benefit come of it. And yet the preacher of the 
Gospel is sustained by the example of his Divine 



140 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Master in openly lamenting the conduct of the 
Pharisees of to-day. On the other hand, evangelists 
have been calumniated in pretty exact proportion to 
their activity and usefulness. But there is no good 
reason why the pastor and the evangelist should be at 
variance. Difference of work does not necessitate 
difference of feelings and objects. " Blessed are ye 
that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the 
feet of the ox and the ass" (Isa. 32 : 20). If by the ox 
is here meant the permanent worker, and by the ass the 
occasional worker, still both are recognized laborers in 
planting the religion of Christ. Nor let it be forgot- 
ten that when the Messiah made His triumphal entry 
into Jerusalem it was upon the occasional beast of 
burden that He rode, and it was under its hoofs 
that the garments and palm-branches of the jubilant 
throngs were reverently spread. 

It is a promising sign that professors of homiletics are 
beginning to cease their opposition to revivals and 
revivalists. Formerly the graduates of our semina- 
ries were kept so ignorant of the subject that when 
their flocks were blessed with a refreshing from the 
presence of the Lord, they were, not a few of them, 
either frightened into the adoption of the most unwise 
measures or maddened into the most unreasonable 
antagonism to the work of the Spirit. Now and then 
the old prejudice finds voice again. Thus, in a recent 
lecture on preaching, the following language was used : 
" Evangelists complain that too many sermons are 
preached that fail to convert. It requires a keen eye, 
a steady hand, and good judgment to sow seed, but 
any Irishman can reap the harvest." Here the voca- 
tion of the evangelist is unjustly narrowed ; for it 
should be considered that he often goes before the 



PASTOR AND EVANGELIST. 141 

pastor, clearing the ground of thorns, thistles, and 
weeds, and then breaking up the fallow ground before 
the sower can begin to exhibit his sagacity and dexter- 
ity. Revival preaching is reacting most favorably on 
pastoral sermons. Say what you will against it, none 
can deny that it has contributed much to deepen our 
belief in the Holy Ghost, and in that homiletical 
liberty and variety which none but the Holy Ghost 
can inspire. 

Some pastors who are receiving regular incomes from 
year to year are in the habit of grumbling over the 
occasional liberality of the church to an evangelist 
who has labored for it a few weeks. The number 
of mercenary pastors is small, but in some cases we are 
tempted to transpose Isa. 1 : 3, and say, " The ass 
knoweth his owner, and the ox his master's crib." 

The best gifts for pastoral service are seldom found 
united with the best gifts for revival work. A good 
ploughman may not be a good sower, and a good 
reaper may not be a good thresher. But still, many 
efficient pastors have proved very successful revivalists. 
Payson and Griffin, Buell and Colman, Berridge and 
Simeon, the Erskines and the Tennents, Edwards and 
Baxter, Bunyan and Fish, Swan and Spurgeon, 
Romaine, Tyng, and not a few other pastors of distinc- 
tion, have been blessed with extensive if not repeated 
revivals among their own people. True it is, however, 
that many of these earnest pastors were wise enough 
to appreciate and obtain the assistance of evangelists 
who were not pastors. Far were they from saying : 
" Let neighboring pastors help one another, and it will 
suffice ; as for evangelists, let them go into regions 
where there are no churches, and confine their labors 
to the poor and the ignorant." In general, those 



142 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

pastors have not been often or greatly favored with 
revivals who make it their boast that they have never 
sought the aid of evangelists. The shepherd that 
loves his flock more than he does his own comfort will 
hearken to the Alpine guide who can lead his sheep to 
higher and better pastures, although the paths to them 
may be over ice and snow, while the precipice yawns 
below and the avalanche threatens above. 



INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS ON REVIVALS. 



Rev. George Whitefield's Life, 
Journals, and Sermons (in several 
forms). 

Rev. John Wesley's Life, Jour- 
nals, and Sermons (in many forms). 

President Edwards's Narra- 
tive of the Work of God in North 
ampton, Mass. ; and Thoughts 
on the Revival of Religion. 

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Buell's 
Narrative of the Revival at East 
Hampton, L. I. 

Dr. Gillies's Historical Collec- 
tions. 

The Rev. Joseph Tracy's Great 
Awakening. 

Revivals of the Eighteenth Cen- 
tury, at Cambuslang and Else- 
where in Scotland, by the Rev. 
Dr. Macfarlan. 

Lectures on Revivals by Min- 
isters of Scotland. 

Revivals of Religion in Scot- 
land, Ireland, Wales, and Ameri- 
ca. (Presbyterian Board of Pub- 
lication, Philadelphia.) 

Duncan's History of Revivals 
in the British Isles. 

Bradley's History of Revivals. 

New England Revivals, by the 
Rev. Dr. Bennett Tyler. 

American Revivals, by Rev. 
CaJvin Colton (London, 1832). 

Asahel Nettleton's Memoirs 
and Remains. 



Autobiography of Lyman 
Beecher. 

Lorenzo Dow's Life and Jour- 
nals. 

John Leland's Life and Writ- 
ings. 

Christmas Evans's Memoirs 
and Sermons. 

Andrew Fuller's Life and Ser- 
mons. 

The Rev. William Dawson's 
Memoirs. 

Rev. Peter Cartwright's Me- 
moirs. 

Rev. Wm. Taylor's Ten Years' 
Street Preaching in San Fran- 
cisco. 

Rev. Jas. Canughey's Revival 
Miscellanies and other works. 

Life and Times of the Rev. 
Thomas S. Sheardown. 

The Rev. Emerson Andrews's 
Life and Sermons. 

Rev. Chas. J. Finney's Life, 
Lectures on Revivals, etc. 

Elder Jacob Knapp's Autobi- 
ography. 

Elder Jabez S. Swan's Autobi- 
ography. 

Rev. Dr. E. Kirk's Lectures on 
Revivals and Memoir. 

Rev. Dr. H. Humphrey's Re- 
vival Sketches and Manual ; also 
his Letters to his Son in the Min- 
istry. 



144 



INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS ON REVIVALS. 



Rev. Dr. I. Spencer's Pastor's 
Sketches (2 vols.). 

Rev. Dr. Wm. B. Sprague's 
Lectures on Revivals. 

Rev. Albert Barnes's Six Ser- 
mons on Revivals (in Actional 
Preacher, vol. xv.). 

Revivals of Religion, by the 
Rev. Dr. Jas. Porter. 

Helps to the Promotion of Re- 
vivals, by the Rev. Dr. Jas. B. 
Watson. 

Rev. J. B. Earle's Bringing in 
Sheaves, and other works. 

Rev. Orson Parker's Fire and 
Hammer ; or, Revivals and How 
to promote them. 

Rev. E. P. Hammond's Con- 
version of Children, and other 
books. 

Mr. D wight L. Moody's Life, 
Sermons, and Readings (in many 
forms). 

Rev. George F. Pentecost's 
Life, Labors, and Bible Studies. 

Recollections of Mary Lycn, 
by Fidelia Fisk. 

Harvest and Reaper, by Mrs. 
Maggie N. Van Cott. 

Harvest Work of the Spirit, by 
the Rev. P. C. Headley. 

Harvest and Reapers, by the 
Rev Dr. H. Newcomb. 

Authentic Records of Revival, 
by Rev. Win. Reid ; Revival in 
Scotland in 1859. 

Year of Grace, by the Rev. Dr. 
Gibson ; Revival in Ireland in 
1859. 

Boston Revival of 1842, by 
Martin Moore. 

The Revival and its Lessons, by 
the Rev. Dr. Jas. W. Alexander. 



Power of Prayer, by the Rev. 
Dr. S. I. Prime. 

Narrative of Conversions and 
Revival Incidents, by Wm. C. 
Conant. 

The Rev. A. P. Graves's Life 
and Sermons. 

Hand-Book of Revivals, by the 
Rev. Dr. H. C. Fish. 

The Great Revival in the South- 
ern Army, by the Rev. Dr. Ben- 
nett. 

The People's Pulpit : Three Se- 
ries of Sermons by Rev. Dr. 
Tyng, Jr. 

Under Canvas: a Volume of 
Sermons Preached in a Tent by 
Rev. Dr. S. H. Tyng, Jr., and 
others. 

The Revival System and the 
Paraclete : a volume made up from 
articles in the Church Journal, in 
1858. 

Proceedings of the Evangelical 
Alliance in N. Y., Oct., 1873 : a 
Paper read by the Rev. W. W. 
Patton, p. 351-356. 

Before and After the Revival, 
by Rev. J. H. Vincent, D.D. 

This last little volume should 
be read in connection with ar- 
ticles by Dr. Vincent and others, 
in the Christian Advocate, N. Y., 
for Feb. 16th and March 2d and 
16th, 1882 ; also the Autob ogra- 
phy of William Harrison, the 
"Boy Evangelist." 

Revivals : their Place and their 
Power, by Rev. Herrick Johnson, 
D.D., pp. 35. (Chicago, 1882.) 

Revivals : How and When ? 
by Rev. Dr. W. W. Newell. 
New York. 1882. 



Part II. 

THEMES AND TEXTS USED BY 
LEADING REVIVALISTS. 



FOREWORDS. 

Our first object in making this collection is to 
suggest to young preachers well-timed texts and 
themes for revival services. But we have another 
object, which to many studious preachers will appear 
not less important : the study of the character of 
the texts which celebrated revivalists were led to 
select, the relation of these to the great movements 
with which these men of God were identified, and of 
the comparative excellence of the series of texts as 
employed by different evangelists. To all such as 
would study the real history of preaching (not the same 
thing as the biography of preachers, as some writers 
seem to imagine it is), this collection will impart lessons 
of considerable value. 

Veteran preachers, who have distinguished them- 
selves as sermonizers as well as original thinkers, 
concur in the opinion that texts, titles, partitions, 
skeletons, and brief reports of sermons are more sug- 
gestive of new lines of thought than are sermons which 
have been fully composed or printed without conden- 
sation. 

In this regard the experience of the famous Robert 
Hall was not unique. While on a short visit to his 
friend Mr. Greene, he read a volume of the sketches 
of Beddome's sermons. Though little more than 
skeletons, he liked them all the better for their com- 
pactness ; they supplied him materials for thinking. 
The result was that the dry and unpopular book sug- 



148 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

gested to him the subject of one of his most original 
and useful sermons, preached first at Leicester and 
afterward at Bristol.* 

How far one preacher may borrow from another is 
still an open question, and promises to remain open 
for some time to come. One fact is as amusing as it 
is instructive : those preachers of to-day who have the 
greatest reputation for independence and originality 
of mind borrow extensively from British, German, 
and French rationalists, deists, atheists, and agnostics. 
These men are much indebted for their reputation to a 
trick they have of flippantly contradicting or ignoring 
all scriptural ideas. The effect of this kind of borrow- 
ing is very enfeebling to the intellects of the bor- 
rowers. 

Read President Eliot's article on the Education of 
Ministers, in the Princeton Review for May, 1883. It 
is valuable as descriptive of the intellectual debility of 
the Unitarian clergymen of his own circle ; if read as 
descriptive of the clergy of the United States, as a 
body, it would amazingly mislead and deceive. Among 
Dr. Eliot's hallucinations, by the way, one is so 
dangerous that we must give it a passing mention. 
It is this : that students of theology do not pursue 
the same inductive method as modern men of science 
do, and that therefore the former have lost the con- 
fidence of the people ; whereas, the latter are " as 
candid as a still lake, " and " characterized by absolute 
freedom from the influence of prepossessions or desires 
as to results. If Dr. Eliot will read for once the 
history of the achievements of natural science during 
the past sixty years he will not fail to find a great 

* Hall's Works, vol. iv. 54-57, 116. 



FOREWORDS. 149 

number of untrustworthy scientists who have been 
" searching for proofs of foregone conclusions." He 
will likewise discover that the men of science who 
have made the greatest discoveries in the same period 
have carried the philosophy of Lord Bacon with them 
in their theological as well as their scientific researches, 
and, like the self-same orthodox Lord Bacon, they 
have found their " standard of intellectual sincerity" 
not in the methods of induction, but in the oracles of 
God. Assuredly, old John Bunyan wrote true prophecy 
when he said that " Mr. Wrong-thoughts-of-Christ 
died of a lingering consumption." 

But to return to the subject of borrowing. It is not 
without advantage that we have traced the fact that 
almost all the Hebrew prophets have repeated (gener- 
ally with modifications) one or two of the ideas of one 
or more of his predecessors. This little volume cannot 
afford room for any adequate illustration of this un- 
questionable fact. Let one example suffice. David 
sang : " He maketh my feet like hinds' feet ; and 
setteth me upon my high places" (2 Sam. 22 : 34). 
Habakkuk (3 : 19) gives the beautiful simile the form 
of a prediction, and causes the hind to walk on his 
high places. 

We may add that in arranging the list of evange- 
lists we have reversed the alphabetical order, and in 
designating authors we have, where necessary, given 
their pseudonyms, and marked as anonymous such 
examples as we found nameless. 

We have arranged this part of the volume in such 
wise as to make it, in our judgment, the most sug- 
gestive. At the expense of a few repetitions, we 
have thought it, on many accounts, desirable to re- 
produce each evangelist's texts and themes apart from 



150 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

those of others. Even these repetitions are instruc- 
tive. 

In our index of subjects we have made separate ref- 
erences to themes proper to be used before, during, 
and after revivals, as well as themes suitable for church 
members. 

This part of the volume owes much of its value to 
the contributions of living evangelists. Space would 
fail us to declare all our obligations ; but special 
acknowledgments are due to Messrs. N. Tibbals & 
Sons, formerly of 37 Park Row, now of 124 Nassau 
Street, New York, who for years generously gave the 
writer free access to the vast collection of Christian 
literature consumed in the fire that destroyed, the 
World Building. Many of those scarce books these 
enterprising men will never be able to replace. May 
they soon possess again a stock as extensive, as va- 
rious, and as rare. 



WESLEY'S FIELD PREACHING. 

The reader of the Rev. John Wesley's sermons, as they are 
published by authority, is liable to form a very inadequate 
notion of him as a revival preacher. Of these one hundred 
and forty sermons, not more than forty are noticed in his 
journals as preached by him during his best years of vast 
ingathering. Some of his most successful sermons, and oft- 
repeated, have never been published ; indeed, it may well be 
doubted whether he ever wrote more than their texts and their 
heads. The present list of his texts is gleaned from his volumi- 
nous journals, which have been carefully searched with express 
reference to this collection. Very few of the one hundred and 
sixty-six texts here reproduced are to be found at the begin- 
nings of his published sermons, and yet they suggested the 
themes of almost all the revival sermons which he repeated more 
or less frequently for fifty years in the circuits he made through 
England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. 

In his earlier and more victorious years Wesley preached 
without much premeditation. Often he selected his texts from 
the lessons for the day, and once in a while, opening his Bible 
ad libitum, he accepted as final the decision of the Bible lot. 
Sometimes, however, he would insensibly wander from the text 
he had chosen, and make another text the foundation of matter 
more suitable for the audience with which, in a few minutes, 
he would grow better acquainted. As intellectual productions 
his later extemporaneous sermons were frequently regarded by 
his friends as failures ; but whoever will consult his journals 
must be convinced that the Spirit gave them wonderful accept- 
ance and success. Scarcely less wonderful is the skill he evinces 
in adapting his texts to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual 



152 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

condition of his mixed and ever-changing audiences. He al- 
ways aimed at immediate fruit, and he sent his missiles in such 
directions as to bring down to the ground the largest possible 
quantity all at once. In vain do we regret that we can find 
out so little about his revival sermons, except from their texts 
and their overwhelming power. Thus much is certain : his 
divisions were strictly practical and experimental. One exam- 
ple we give, as it is almost the only one in all his journals. 
The text is, " Cast not away your confidence," etc. " Ye 
who have known and felt your sins forgiven, cast not away your 
confidence. 1. Though your joy should die away, your love 
wax cold, and your peace itself be roughly assaulted. Though, 
2. You should find doubt or fear, or strong and uninterrupted 
temptation. Yea, though, 3. You should find a body of sin 
still in you, and thrusting sore at you that you might fall." 
Could anything be more encouraging to a certain class of 
young converts ? 

Whenever Wesley wrote a sermon he usually completed the 
task in three days, if he could secure uninterrupted leisure. 
" The Great Assize" he composed in that time. This, with his 
" Circumcision of the Heart," " The Use of Money," and the 
"Good Steward," he considered among his very best. The 
revival sermon which he pronounced his "favorite" had for its 
text : " Who of God is made unto wisdom," etc. It was 
never published, and probably it was never written in full. 

Mr. Wesley's out-door sermons were short, seldom more 
than half an hour long. His delivery was calm and unim- 
passioned ; his voice was not loud, but clear and distinct. Very 
rarely did he depict for the imagination, and he cordially dis- 
liked " prose run mad." He much admired the style of St. 
John, as being at once simple and profound. He always gave 
a practical turn to his text, and was content " to open and 
apply." 

Whoever would know Wesley as a revival preacher should 
read his journals from beginning to end. He will not find 
them, in the least, dry and wearisome, but full of the sun- 



WESLEY S FfELD PREACHING. 153 

beams and shadows of old English life, with occasional glimpses 
at wonderland, and not a few foregleams of heaven. 

We have not given many outlines or sketches of Wesley's 
revival addresses, because few are to be found. The subjects 
and texts of eighteen sermons in this collection were fully de- 
veloped by him, and may be read in the volumes of his pub- 
lished sermons. The examination of these affords but little 
knowledge of his general method of handling revival themes. 
There is ground for the conviction that his field sermons, as 
he preached them, were more simple in arrangement, more 
popular in thought, and more familiar in style. 

OUTLINES OF SERMONS. 

ON THE HOLY SPIRIT. 
Now the Lord is that Sp : rit. 2 Cor. 3:17. 

i. The nature of our fall in Adam : if the Lord were not "that 
Spirit" he could not be said to redeem us from our fallen condition. 

2. Consider the person of Jesus Christ, by which it will appear that 
" the Lord is that Spirit." 

3. The nature and operations of the Holy Spirit as bestowed upon 
Christians. 

ON PUBLIC DIVERSIONS IN A TIME OF CALAMITY. 

Shall the trumpet be blown in the city and ihe people not be afraid ? Shall there be 
evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it ? Amos 3 : 6. 

i. There is no evd in any place but the hand of the Lord is in it. 

2. Every uncommon evil is the trumpet of God blown in that place, 
so that the people may take warning. 

3. Consider, whether, after God has blown his trumpet in this 
place, we have been duly afraid. 

SALVATION BY FAITH. 
By grace are ve saved, through faith. Eph. 2 : 8. 

1. What faith is it through which we are saved ? 

2. What is the salvation which is through faith? 

3. Answer some objections. 

THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN. 
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts 26 : 28. 

1. What is implied in being almost a Christian ? 

2. What in being altogether a Christian ? 



154 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

SCRIPTURAL CHRISTIANITY. 
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 4 : 31. 
Christianity may be considered under three distinct views. 

1. As beginning to exist in individuals. 

2. As spreading from one to another. 

3. As covering the earth. 

THE WAY TO THE KINGDOM. 
The Kingdom of God is at hand ; repent ye and believe the Gospel. Mark 1:15. 

1. The nature of true religion or " Kingdom of God." 

2. The way thereto : " repent and believe." 

THE GOOD STEWARD. 
Give an account of thy stewardship, etc. Luke 16 : 2 

1. In what respects we are now God's stewards. 

2. When he requires our souls of us we can no longer be stewards. 

3. It will then only remain to give an account of our stewardship. 

THE GREAT ASSIZE. 
We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Rom. 14 : 10. 
i. The circumstances which will precede our standing before the 
judgment-seat of Christ. 

2 The judgment itself ; and, 

3. A few of the circumstances which will follow it. 

THE NATURE OF ENTHUSIASM. 
And Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself. Acts 26 : 24. 

1. Show what enthusiasm is. 

2. Describe its various kinds. 

3 Draw some practical inferences. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The Nature of Bigotry and Cautions against it. (Master, we saw 
one casting out devils in thy name, and he followed not us. . . .) Mark 
9: 38. 

The Nature and Necessity of the New Birth. (Marvel not that I 
said unto thee. . . .) John 3 : 7. 

Free Grace and Predestination. (He that spared not his own 
son ) Rom. 8 : 32. 

Backsliders encouraged to return to Christ. Ps. 77 : 7-8. 

The Nature and Properties of true Zeal. (But it is good to be 
zealously affected. . . .) Gal. 4:18. 

The Rich Man and Lazarus. Luke 16 : 31, 



WESLE Y S FIELD PRE A CHING. 1 5 5 

The Parable of the Rich Fool explained and applied. Luke 12 : 20. 

The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes. Ps. 46 : 8. 

Human Life a Dream from which we must awake. Ps. 73 : 20. 

Unbelief in refusing the conditions of Salvation. (If I say the 
truth, why do ye not believe me ?) John 8 : 46. 

The World overcome by all who are born of God. 1 John 5 : 4. 

The Confessor or Martyr nothing without Love. 1 Cor. 13 : 3. 

All followers of Christ required to take up their Cross Matt. 16 : 24. 

On Hell. Where the worm dieth not. Mark 9 . 48. 

All things are ready ; come unto the marriage. Matt. 22 : 4. 

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the 
communion of the Holy Ghost. ... 2 Cor. 13 : 14. 

God hath reconciled us unto himself. 2 Cor. 5 : 18. 

The World gained, but the Soul lost. (For what is a man profited 
if he shall gain the whole world. . . .) Matt. 16 : 26. 

A High Priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Heb. 

4: 15- 

Jesus the Resurrection and the Life. John 11 : 25. 

Is there no balm in Gilead? Jer. 8 : 22. 

Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God. Mark 12 : 34. 

Seek ye the Lord while ye may be found. Isa. 55:6. 

Blessed are the eyes which see the things which ye see, etc. Luke 
10 : 23-24. 

Lord, are there few that be saved. Luke 13 : 23. 

The foolish took no oil with them. Matt. 25 : 3. 

The righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. (Except your 
righteousness shall exceed . . .) Matt. 5 : 20. 

He hath not dealt so with any. nation. Ps. 147 : 20. 

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb. 
10: 31. 

Harden not your hearts. Heb. 3 : 8. 

Justification not by the deeds of the Law, but by Faith. Gal. 
3 : io-n. 

The glorified Saints are like the Angels of God. Matt. 22 : 30. 

The Harvest past and the Summer ended. Jer. 8 : 20. 

The Knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. (This is life eternal to 
know thee ) John 17 : 3. 

The Word of Faith is in thy Heart, etc. Rom. 10 : 6-8. 

The Kingdom of Heaven like a grain of Mustard Seed. Matt. 
13 : 31. 

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 
q: 44. 



156 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Now is the day of Salvation. 2 Cor. 6 : 2. 

One thing is needful. Luke 10 : 42. 

The Good Shepherd giveth his life for the Sheep. John 10 : 11. 

All men commanded to repent. Acts 17 : 30. 

that thou hadst known the things that belong to thy peace. Luke 
19 : 42. 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, etc. Matt. 7 : 21. 
Will the Lord be favourable no more ? Ps. 77 : 7. 
The whole duty of man. (Fear God and keep his command- 
ments....) Eccles. 12 : 13. 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Rev. 3 : 20. 

He is able to save to the uttermost. Heb. 7 : 25. 

Acquaint now thyself with him and be at peace. Job 22 : 21. 

The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. 

1 Pet. 4 : 17. 

" As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." Matt. 8 : 13. 

The Kingdom of God is at hand. Matt. 3 : 2. 

How long halt ye between two opinions ? 1 Kings 18 : 21. 

God, the King, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Ps. 
74 : 12. 

[W. used the Psalter's translation of this text ; see Jour., Oct. 11, 
1785, and Apr. 22, 1787.] 

Lazarus, come forth. John 11 : 43. 

The Lord's throne, glory, and voice. Ps. 29 : 9-10. 

The children are come to the birth, etc. 2 Kings 19 : 3. 

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. Ps. 33 : 1. 

1 saw a great white throne and him that sat on it, etc. Rev. 20 :,ir. 
Be vigilant, lest we lose a full reward of our labours among you. 

2 John 8. 

God hath given unto us his Holy Spirit. I Thes. 4 : 8. 

I will ; be thou clean. Matt. 8:3. 

Master, master, we perish, etc. Luke 8 : 24. 

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, etc. Matt. 6 : 33. 

Receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 Cor. 6 : 1. 

Strait is the gate and narrow is the way, etc. Matt. 7 : 14. 

The Vision of Dry Bones. Ezek. 37 : 1-10. 

The Christian believer a fountain full of grace. (In the last great 

day of the feast ) John 7 : 38. 

The Promise of healing and love to backsliders. Hos. 14 : 4. 

The Invitation to the Hungry and Thirsty. Isa. 55 : 1. 

Debts forgiven to the destitute. Luke 7 : 42. 

Christ made to us wisdom, etc. [W.'s favourite text.] 1 Cor. 1 : 30. 



WESLEY'S FIELD PREACHING. 157 

The blood that cleanses from all sin. 1 John 1 : 7. 

The Spiritual Resurrection. (The dead shall hear the voice of 
God ) John 5 : 25. 

Salvation offered to all men. 1 Tim. 2 : 4. 

Christ gave himself a ransom for all. 1 Tim. 2 : 6. 

The Prince exalted to give repentance and remission. Acts 5:31. 

A childlike spirit a preparation for the new Kingdom. Matt. 
18 : 3. 

The Promise by faith of Jesus Christ given. Gal. 3 : 22. 

Not the Righteous but sinners called. Matt. 9 : 13. 

Light promised to those who rise from the dead. Eph. 5 : 14. 

The Son of Man came not to destroy but to save. Luke 9 : 55-56. 

All guilty and silenced. Rom. 3 : 19. 

The Scripture concludes all under sin. Gal. 3 : 22. 

Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? Acts 16 : 30. 

All the ends of the earth invited to look and be saved. Isa. 
45 : 22. 

The word of God compared to rain and snow. Isa. 55 : 10. 

Fear of the Pharisees keeps the chief rulers silent. John 12 : 42. 

In heaven the wicked cease from troubling. Job 3 ; 17. 

Holiness progressive. [To Young Converts] Mark 4 : 25-28. 

Christ justifies the ungodly. Rom. 4 : 5. 

[The Nature, Cause, and Instrument of justification.] 

Looking unto the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Heb. 12 : 2. 

As ye have received, so walk. [To Young Converts.] Col. 2 : 6. 

The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, etc. [Often used by 
W.] Rom. 14 : 17. 

Young converts cheered by Christ's victory. (Be of good cheer : I 
have overcome the world. . . .) John 16 : 33. 

In me dwelleth no good thing. Rom. 7 : 18. 

The bruised reed and the smoking wick. Isa. 42 : 3. 

The atoning blood and the sanctifying water. John 19 : 34. 

O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Ezek. 37 : 4. 

Stand ye in the ways, and ask for the old paths. Jer. 6 : 16. 

Cast not away your confidence, etc. [To Young Converts.] Heb. 
10 : 35. 

Let him that thinketh he standeth, etc. [To the same.] 1 Cor. 10 : 12. 

How shall I give thee up, etc. [To Backsliders.] Hos. 11 : 8. 

The Spiritual resurrection. Acts 26 : 8. 

O that I had wings like a dove, etc. Ps. 55 : 6. 

The believer saved, the unbeliever damned. Mark. 16 : 16. 

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Exod. 14 : 13. 



158 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

All we like sheep have gone astray, etc. Isa. 53 : 6. 

Forgiveness and love proportionate. Luke 7 : 47. 

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. 2 Cor. 3:17. 

Liberty to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Heb. 
10 : 19. 

Perseverance in Prayer illustrated. Luke : 18 : 1. 

What is eternal Life? John 17 : 3. 

Who art thou, O great mountain ? etc. Zech 4 : 7. 

Looking unto Jesus. Heb. 12 : 2. 

Whom ye ignorantly worship, him declare, etc. Acts 17 : 23. 

God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1 : 5. 

The sun and moon standing still. Josh. 10 : 12. 

Trust in the God of everlasting strength. Isa. 26 : 4. 

He shall save His people from their sins. Matt. 1 : 21. 

Perseverance a proof of discipleship. (I will follow thee whitherso- 
ever thou goest. . . .let the dead bury their dead.) Matt. 8 : 19-22. 

The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins. Matt. 9 : 6. 

The righteousness of faith. Rom. 4 : 13. 

Why will ye die, O house of Israel ? Ezek. 18 : 31. 

Abounding in Knowledge and Feeling. (That your love may 
abound more and more. . . .) Phil. 1 : 9. [See Journal, Sept. 3d, 
1742.] 

The Lord merciful, gracious, long-suffering, etc. 

He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to 
4: 18. 

Say unto Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh ! etc. 

None is like the God of Jeshurun, etc. Deut. 33 : 

By the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners. Zech. 
9: 11. 

Repent ye, and believe the Gospel. Mark 1 : 15. 

Who can tell if God will turn and repent? etc. Jonah 3 : 9. 

Fear not ye ; for I know that ye seek Jesus, etc. Matt. 28 : 5. 

Jacob wrestling with the Angel. Gen. 32 : 24-30. 

He healeth the broken in heart. Ps. 147 : 3. 

The rescued remnant refusing to repent. (I have overthrown some 
of you. . . .yet ye have not returned unto me. . . .) Amos 4 : 11. 

How shall we escape if we neglect, etc. Heb. 2 : 3. 

What doest thou here, Elijah ? 1 Kings 19 : 9. 

O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ? Matt. 14 : 31. 

The hearer at once and doer builds his house upon a rock. Matt. 
7: 24. 

Why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, etc. Acts 22 : 16. 



Exod. 34 : 
the poor. 


6. 
Luke 


Isa. 
26. 


62 : 


11. 



WHITE FIELD'S SERMONS. 159 

What lack I yet ? Matt. 19 : 20. 

Him hath God raised up, whereof we are witnesses. Acts 2 : 3.1. 

The Son of God manifested to destroy the works of the devil. 
1 John 3 : 8. 

God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, etc. 1 Cor. 1 : 27. 

And Gallio cared for none of those things. Acts 18 : 17. 

Neither can they die any more, being the children of the resur- 
rection, etc. Luke 20 : 36. 

Render into Caesar the things that are Caesai's, etc. Matt. 22 : 21. 

Dead unto sin, but alive unto God, etc. Rom. 6:11. 

And some fell among thorns. Matt. 13 : 7. 

The one hundred and forty-four thousand, etc. Rev. 14 : 1. 

We preach Christ crucified, etc. 1 Cor. 1 : 23. 

I will not destroy the city for ten's sake. Gen. 18 : 32. 

I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. Rev. 20 : 12. 

The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. Rev. 22 : 17. 

Come, Lord Jesus. Rev. 22 : 20. 



WHITEFIELD'S SERMONS. 

The revival sermons of the Rev. George Whitefield, unlike 
those of Wesley, have, many of them, come down to us literally 
reported by short-hand writers. Even the long and earnest 
exhortations with which they concluded are, for the most part, 
carefully reproduced. Consequently we can, even at this late 
day, obtain a very tolerable idea of the matter and style of his 
field-preaching. But there is, we are sorry to say, no complete 
collection of these sermons ; and there never has been, either 
in England or America. The American octavo edition of his 
works is sadly defective, being without that famous sermon on 
the text, "What think ye of Christ?" — the sermon that did so 
much to form the faith of the Rev. James Hervey. Resolved 
to make out a full if not complete list of his revival texts, we 
have for years taken every opportunity to find out notices of the 
themes of his ministrations, or any separate and forgotten sermon 



160 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

of his, bound up, mayhap, among old pamphlets or the dis- 
courses or tracts of other authors. Whitefield' s habit of pre- 
paring for the pulpit was to write a skeleton, and trust more or 
less in the inspiration of the Spirit and the suggestions of the 
hour for suitable and telling amplifications. Each repetition 
of the sermon demanded new adaptations ; for, like Wesley, he 
exercised admirable skill in the selection of his materials, and 
in the fitting and forcible application of his subject. The ser- 
mons which he fully wrote were chiefly composed while he was 
at sea, and were published by his good friend Benjamin Frank- 
lin, of Philadelphia. They want the vivacity, the ease, the 
brilliance of his extemporaneous addresses. Neither Whitefield 
nor Wesley did himself justice when he attempted to write out 
a volume of sermons for the press. 

Occasionally Whitefield, like Wesley, wandered away from his 
text in trying to arrest the attention and convert the souls of his 
auditors. As he was once preaching, all of a sudden his heart 
led him into a digression, in which he talked at some length, 
against depending on our natural reason, His friends were 
astonished, and so was he, that he should have so far turned 
aside from his theme. Afterward, however, he found out that 
a group of rationalists were in the congregation, and that his 
digression was graciously made for their benefit. 

Highly as Whitefield valued the guidance of the Spirit, he 
did not hold cheap the advantages of a thorough training in 
oratory. He repeatedly acknowledges his early obligations to 
it, and makes provision for rhetorical instruction in his " Beth- 
esda." According to Southey, his delivery was perfect. He 
commenced his ministry by writing his sermons and reading 
them to his audiences ; but in the year 1738 he was convinced 
by observation that it was better for him to preach extempora- 
neously. His earlier attempts to preach in the fields, if Wes- 
ley's judgment is to be trusted, betrayed many inaccuracies of 
language. But as he often repeated his sermons, he continually 
improved them in style and delivery. The sermons which he 
confessedly wrote out after preaching, and the volumes of his 



WHITEFIELD' S SERMONS. 161 

letters, were composed in excellent English. The latter are 
fuller of heart than even those of John Newton. 

His journals will reward careful study. Indeed, they demand 
it ; for in his haste Whitefield did not diligently compare one 
day's experiences with those of another. One day he exults in 
the abundance of God's help, and declares rather presumptu- 
ously that "it is more than sufficient for him." Soon he sinks 
almost into despair, but does not seem to suspect that it was 
the fruit of his presumption. 

In preaching he gave way to a soul full of generous passions. 
With a sensibility so tender that he could cry as easily as a 
child, his appeals were irresistibly pathetic and affecting. Yet 
was he simple, natural, and honest in all his tears, exclamations, 
and lamentations. He had. on principle, exercised as parts 
of the new man, those powers of feeling which were in him 
natural endowments. Finding Christian people everywhere 
dry, formal, and lukewarm, he would often say, " Let us be all 
heart." . . . " The world wants more heat than light. " . . . 
' ' Lord, make us all flames of fire. ' ' While preaching one day 
at Cambuslang to twenty thousand people, he saw a universal 
thrill : ' ' the motion fled as swift as lightning from one end of 
the congregation to the other. 

His audiences were very large — the numbers were perhaps 
exaggerated. Once he had eight thousand ; on two occasions 
he is said to have had nine thousand hearers ; at two other 
open-air services he had twenty thousand. Sometimes his pul- 
pit was a pile of turf. His voice, when exerted according to its 
natural capacity, could be heard a great way, but when sur- 
rounded by multitudes he sometimes strained his throat until 
it bled again. In a ministry of thirty-four years he preached 
about eighteen thousand sermons. One day he preached seven 
times. He gradually acquired peaceful and gentle habits of 
feeling and delivery. The sum of his wisdom on this point is 
found in the following : " The further we go in the spiritual 
life, the more cool and rational shall we be, and yet more truly 
zealous. I speak from experience. 



1 62 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

OUTLINES OF SERMONS. 

THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14 : 17. 

The Introduction explains the context. 

1. Explain what we are to understand by the Kingdom of God. 

2. Show that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink. 

3. Show what the Kingdom positively is. 

THE METHOD OF GRACE. 
Saying, Peace, peace ; when there is no peace. . . . Jer. 6 : T4. 

The Introduction reviews Jeremiah's account of the false prophets 
of his day. 

How far must we go, and what must be wrought in us before we can 
speak peace to our hearts? 

Here give me leave to premise a caution or two. 

a. I take it for granted that religion is a work of the heart wrought 
in the soul by the power of the Spirit of God. 

b. I would by no means say that God is confined to one way of 
acting, or that all persons, before they can have a settled peace, are 
obliged to undergo the same degrees of conviction. 

1. Before you can speak peace to your hearts, you must be made 
to see, made to feel, made to bewail your actual transgressions of the 
lazv of God. 

2. Before you can speak peace to your hearts, conviction must go 
deeper. You must be convinced of the foundation of all your trans- 
gressions — that is to say, original sin, that original corruption each of 
us brings into the world. 

3. Further : before you can speak peace to your hearts, you must not 
only be troubled for the sins of your life and the sin of your nature, 
but likewise for the sins of your best duties and performances. 

4. Before you can speak peace to your hearts, you must be troubled 
on account of the sin of unbelief . This is the reigning damning sin of 
the Christian world, and yet the Christian world seldom or never think 
of it. We are not to be satisfied with an historical faith. 

5. Once more : before you can speak peace to your heart, you must 
also lay hold by faith of the perfect and all-sufficient righteousness of 
Jesus Christ. 

The application consists of a long and animated address to several 
sorts of persons — congratulations to those who have found peace ; 
cautions to such as are in danger of resting on their first conversion ; 
lamentation over those who have no peace with God ; warning to 



WHITEFIELD' S SERMONS. 163 

the self-secure ; directions to those who are partly awakened ; to 
backsliders. 

THE DUTY OF A GOSPEL MINISTER. 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 

Luke 4 : 18, 19. 

Introduction drawn from the context. 

1. Every minister ought to be able to say, " The Spirit of the Lord 
is upon me," etc. 

2. I shall show what the Gospel is, which ministers, thus qualified, 
are to preach. 

3. To whom this Gospel is to be preached — the poor, the broken- 
hearted, the captives, etc. 

5. A general application.* 

DOST THOU BELIEVE IN THE SON OF GOD ? 
John 9 : 35. 

1. Some marks of those who believe on Christ. 

2. The happiness of such as truly believe on Him. 

EXHORTATION TO UNITY, ZEAL, AND OTHER BECOMING VIRTUES. 

(A farewell sermon.) Phil. 1 : 27-28. 
I take the words in their order. 

1. "Let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ." 
He would have them keep a Gospel walk with God. 

2. " Stand fast in one spirit, in one mind." He recommends uniiy 
and love. 

3. " Striving together, " etc. He recommends zeal. 

4. "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries." A caution not 
to be afraid of your enemies. 

PERSECUTION EVERY CHRISTIAN'S LOT. 
2 Tim. 3 : 12. 

1. What it is to live godly in Christ Jesus. 

2. The different kinds of persecution to which the godly are ex- 
posed. 

3. Why is it that the godly must expect to suffer persecution ? 

4. Application. 

EXHORTATION TO CLEAVE TO THE LORD. 

Acts 11 : 23. 

* The three sermons outlined above were preached in the High Church yard of 
Glasgow, in September, 1741. 



164 REVIVAL SERVICE. 



ABRAHAM OFFERING UP HIS SON ISAAC. 
Gen. 22 : 12. 
i. The narrative. 2. Practical inferences." 

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 
Jer. 23 : 6. 

1. Consider who we are to understand by the word Lord. 

2. How the Lord is man's righteousness. 

3. Consider some of the objections that are urged against this 
doctrine. 

4. Show some of the ill consequences that flow from denying this 
doctrine. 

5. Conclude with an exhortation to all to come to Christ by faith, 
that they may be enabled to say with the prophet in the text, "The 
Lord our righteousness." 

CHRIST THE BELIEVER'S HUSBAND. 
For thy Maker is thy husband Isa. 54 : 5. 

1. Show what must pass between Jesus Christ and our souls before 
we can say our Maker is our husband. 

2. The duties of love which we owe to our Lord, who stands in so 
near a relation to Him. 

3. The miserable condition of such as cannot yet say their Maker is 
their husband. 

4. Exhortation to the class last mentioned. 

THE POTTER AND THE CLAY. 
Arise and go down to the potter's house Jer. 18 : 1-6. 

1. Prove that every man by nature is, in the sight of God, only "a 
piece of marred clay." 

2. That, being thus marred, he must necessarily be renewed. 

3. Point out by whose agency this change is to be brought about. 

THE POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. 
Philip. 3 : 10. 

i. Show that Christ is indeed risen from the dead, and that it was 
necessary for Him so to do. 

2. Show that it highly concerns us to know and experience the 
power of His resurrection. 

* This sermon, like all others on the subject with which we are acquainted, passes 
without due notice Heb n : 17-19, which affords a key to the mystery of the appar- 
ently stoical conduct of the patriarch during the trial of his faith. 



WHITEFIELD'S SERMONS. 165 

THE INDWELLING SPIRIT THE PRIVILEGE OF ALL BELIEVERS. 
If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink — John 7 : 37-39. 

1. Show what is meant by the word Spirit. 

2. That this Spiiit is the privilege of all believers. 

3. The reason on which this doctrine is founded. 

4. Conclude with a general exhortation to believe on Jesus Christ, 
whereby alone we can receive this Spirit. 

THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL. 
John 17 : 3. 

i. I shall show that there is one true God. 

2. What is the knowledge you must have of Jesus Christ. 

3. An exhortation to all classes to seek this knowledge. 

WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST? 
Matt. 22 : 42. 

i. What think ye about the person of Christ? Whose son is He? 

2. What think ye of the incarnation of Christ? 

3. What think ye about being justified by Christ? 

4. What think ye of Christ being formed within you ?* 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Christ's Transfiguration. Luke 9 : 28-36. 

A penitent heart the best New Year's gift. (Except ye repent ) 

Luke 13 : 3. 

The Gospel Supper. An exposition. (Go out unto the highways. . . .) 
Luke 14 : 22-24. 

The Marriage of Cana. John 2 : n. 

The Duty of searching the Scriptures. John 5 : 3-9. 

The Resurrection of Lazarus. John 11 : 43, 44. 

Marks of having received the Holy Ghost. (Have ye received the 
Holy Ghost?) Acts 19 : 2. 

The Almost Christian. Acts 26 : 28. 

The Knowledge of Christ the best Knowledge. (Not to know any- 
thing.) 1 Cor. 2 : 2. 

Of Justification by Christ. (Ye are justified in the name of the Lord 
Jesus. . .) 1 Cor. 6:11. 

The Duty of Charity recommended. 1 Cor. 13 : 8. 

Satan's Devices. 1 Cor. 2 : 11. 

* The Rev. James Hervey set a high value on this sermon : it was the means of 
correcting his errors concerning the method of salvation. Whitefield became his 
friend, and recommended from the pulpit his " Theron and Aspasio." 



1 66 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Of Regeneration. (If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature . . . .) 
2 Cor. 5 : 17. 

Christians' Temples of the Living God. 2 Cor. 6 : 16. 
The Sin of Drunkenness. (And be not drunk with wine. . . .) Eph. 
5:18. 

Christ the only preservative against a Reprobate Spirit. (. . . .Jesus 
is in you, except ye be. . . .) 2 Cor. 13 : 5. 
Peter's Denial of his Loid. Matt. 26 : 75. 

The true way of beholding the Lamb of God. John 1 : 35, 56. 
Great is Diana of the Ephesians. Acts 19 : 2S. 
The Serpent lifted up a type of Christ crucified. John 3 : 14. 
Not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Rom. 1 : 16. 
Self inquiry concerning the Work of God. (. . . .What hath God 
wrought?. . . ) Num. 23 : 23. 

Neglect of Christ the killing sin. ( ...Ye will not come .. ) 
John 5 : 40. 

The Righteousness of Christ an everlasting righteousness. Dan. 
9: 24. 

The true way of keeping Christmas. (And she shall bring forth a 
son . . .) Matt. 1 : 21. 

The Temptation of Christ. Matt. 4 : 1-11. 

The sin of Profane Swearing. (Swear not at all. . . .) Matt. 5 : 34. 

Christ the support of the tempted. (Lead us not. . . .for thine is the 

Kingdom ) Matt. 6 : 13. 

Worldly business no plea for the neglect of religion. (Follow me, 
and let the dead bury their dead . . .) Matt. 8 : 22. 

Christ the only rest for the weary and heavy laden. Matt, n : 28. 
The Danger of parting with Christ for the pleasures of Life. Matt. 
8 : 23-34. [An exposition.] 

A childlike Spirit a mark of true Conversion. (Except ye be con- 
verted and become as little children. . . .) Matt. 10 : 3. 
Blind Bartimeus. Mark 10 : 52. 

Directions how to hear sermons. (Take heed how ye hear. . . .) 
Luke 8 : 18. 

The Nature and Reasonableness of Self-Denial. Luke 9 : 23. 

Intercession every Christian's duty. 1 Thess. 5 : 25. 

The eternity of Hell torments. Matt. 25 : 46. 

Go out into the highways and hedges. Luke 14 : 22. 

The great duty of Family Religion. Joshua 24 : 15. 

The Wise and the Foolish Virgins. Matt. 25 : 13. 

We do not corrupt the word of God. 2 Cor. 2 : 17. 

Christ the Believer's Refuge. Ps. 46 : 1-6. 



WHITEFIELD'S SERMONS. 167 

Soul Prosperity. 3 John 2. 

Soul Dejection. Ps. 43 : 5. 

The Gospel a dying saint's triumph. (Qo ye into all the world 

he that believeth not shall be damned.) Mark 16 : 15,16. 

God the believer's Glory. Isa. 60 : 19. 

The Burning Bush. Exod. 3 : 2, 3. 

The Lord our Light. Isa. 60 : 19, 20. 

Present discouragement and future rest. (There remaineth there- 
fore a rest ) Heb. 4 : 9. 

The Duty of going directly to Jesus for spiritual food. (Go unto 
Joseph ; what he saith to you, do ) Gen. 41 : 53. [The sermon from 
this text was preached at Cambuslang in 1742. It was never reported.] 

Ignorance of the New Birth. (Art thou a master in Israel?....) 
John 3 : 10. 

Saul's Conversion; Acts 9 : 22. 

Christ the believer's wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and re- 
demption. 1 Cor. 1 : 30. 

The Pharisee and the Publican. Luke 18 : 14. 

This is my beloved ; this is my friend. Canticles 5 : 16. 

The Holy Spirit convincing the world of sin, righteousness, and 
judgment. John 16 : 8. 

The Marriage in Cana. John 2 : 2. 

The Conversion of Zaccheus. Luke 19 : 9,10. 

The Conversion of the Eunuch. Acts 8 : 26-39. 

The Penitent Thief. Luke 23 : 42. 

Noah a preacher of Righteousness. 2 Pet. 2 : 5. 

The cave Adullam a refuge. 1 Sam. 22 : 2. 

The Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent. Gen. 3 : 45. 
[This sermon is chiefly an exposition of the first fifteen verses of the 
3d chapter of Genesis.] 

A sermon addressed to soldiers. Luke 3 : 14. 

Walking with God. Gen. 5 : 24. 

Christ the best husband. (Hearken, O daughter. . . . worship thou 
him.) Ps. 45 : 10, 11. 

Thanksgiving a necessary duty. Ps. 107 : 30, 31. 

The Folly and Danger of not being righteous enough. Eccles. 
7 : 16. 

The Benefits of Early Piety. Eccles. 12 : 1. 

Mourning sinners comforted. Matt. 5 : 4. 

The Necessity of Regeneration. John 3 : 3. 

The Unbeliever Convinced. (Thomas, because thou hast seen. . . .) 
John 20 : 29. 



1 68 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The Balm of Gilead, or Christ the Physician of souls. Jer. 

8 : 20, 21. 

The remnant that is left. Isa. 1 : 9. 

Jacob's Ladder. Gen. 28 : 12-15. [A farewell sermon.] 

The Good Shepherd John 10 : 27, 28. [A farewell sermon. J 

Paul's parting speech to the elders of Ephesus. Acts 20 : 17-35. 

[A farewell sermon.] 

A minister's parting blessing. Rev. 22 : 21. [A farewell sermon.] 



SERMONS BY REV. JOHN WELCH, 

Of Ayr, Scotland. 

OUTLINES. 

EIGHT SERMONS ON REPENTANCE. 
Sermon I. Rev. 2: 2-5. 

1. The testimony in behalf of Ephesus. " I know thy works," etc. 

2. The charge against them. "Nevertheless I have somewhat,' 
etc. 

3. Christ bids her do the first works of love, zeal, and patience. 

Sermon II. (Same subject continued.) Rev. 2 : 5. 

1. The names the Holy Spirit gives to repentance in Scripture- 

2. How many ways repentance is taken in the Scripture. 

Sermon III. (Same subject continued.) Rev. 2 : 5. 
I. What true repentance is. 

Sermon IV. (Same subject continued.) Rev. 2 : 5. 

1. What true repentance is. 

2. Objections answered. 

Sermon V. (Same subject continued.) Rev. 2 : 5. 
i. Who is the Author of true repentance. 

2. Reasons why we should not delay repentance. 

3. Motives to repentance. 

4. The persons who ought to repent. 

5. Means used by the Lord to bring His own to repentance. 

Sermon VI. (Same subject continued.) Rev. 2 . 5. 
i. What are the fruits of true repentance. 

2. Why God gives repentance to some and denies it to others. 

3. The parts of true repentance. 



SERMONS BY REV. JOHN WELCH. 169 

Sermon VII. (Same subject continued.) Rev. 2: 5 

1. The parts of repentance in respect of times and manners. 

2. Degrees of repentance. 

3. What are the contraries of true repentance. 

4. The means to be used by us to get repentance. 

Sermon VIII. (Same subject continued.) Rev 2 : 5. 
i. How to renew and recover repentance after we have abandoned 
it and can with difficulty renew it. 

2. Motives to use the means of renewing repentance. 

ON FAITH. 
Now faith is the substance Heb. u : i. 

Three properties of Faith. 

i. The ground of things hoped for, etc. 

2. It causes us to be well reported of both with God and man, as 
Enoch. 

3. It makes all the mysteries of God credible. 

4. All the good saints ever received or did was through faith. 

The just shall live by faith Rom. 1 : 17. 

1. The just man lives — that is, the man that is covered with the 
righteousness of Christ is blessed. Ps. 32 : 1. 

2. The just man lives— that is, makes the law of God his delight. 

3. How does he live? By faith. 

ON THE LAST JUDGMENT. 
Rev. 20 : 11, 

1. The throne is great. 

2. It is white. 

Same subject continued. (Same text.) 

1. The Judge. 

2. The manner of the judgment. 

3. The execution of the judgment. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Paul lives, or rather Christ lives in him. Gal. 2 : 20. 

God's love to the world the ground of faith. (God so loved the 
world. .. .that the world through him might be saved....) John 
3 : 16-17. 

The Benefits of Faith in Christ. (Same text.) 

Same subject continued. (Same text.) 

The Unbeliever condemned. John 3 : 17. 

On the causes of condemnation. John 3 : 18. 



170 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Mr. Welch has left nine sermons on Eph. 6 : 10-21. These were 
probably preached to the new converts. Ever do they need to know 
the Christian Armor. 



SERMONS* BY REV. G. W. WOODHOUSE, 

Vicar of Albrighton, England. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The Christian accountable for his privileges. (Consider how great 
things he hath done for you ) 1 Sam. 12 : 24. 

Present Impunity. (They consider not in their hearts that I re- 
member all their wickedness. . . .) Hosea 7 : 2. 

False Confidences. (For the Lord hath rejected thy confidences 
and thou shalt not prosper in them. . . .) Jer. 2 : 37. 

Vain Excuses. (Bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of 
Jacob ) Isa. 41 : 21. 

The Retrospect. (And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, 
Surely the Lord is in this place ; and I knew it not. . . .) Gen. 28 : 16. 

Pardon for the Penitent. (Because he considereth and turneth 
away from all his transgressions that he hath committed ; he shall 
surely live, he shall not die. . . .) Ezek. 18 : 28. 

The only safe state. (Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord. . . .) 
Ps. 24 : 3. 

The Danger of Delay. (Give glory to the Lord before He causes 
darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains. . . .) 
Jer. 13 : 16. 

The Judgment to Come. 2 Cor. 5 : 10. 



SERMONS BY REV. GILBERT TENNENT. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Christ's Invitation to Rest. (Come unto me all ye that labor. . . .) 
Matt. 11 : 28. 

Prayer to the Breath of God. (Come, O breath. . . .) Ezek. 37 : 9. 

* Addressed to careless Christians. 



SERMON'S BY DR. STEPHEN H. TYNG, SR. 171 

The Prodigal Son. Luke 15. 
The Law reviving sin. Rom. 7 : 9. 
The Lord's call to Adam. Gen. 3 : 9. 

Words of rejoicing and exhortation. (Was glad and exhorted. . . .) 
Acts 11 : 23. 

The Wisdom of God in Redemption. I Cor. 1 : 23, 24. 
The Benefits of Spiritual Devotions. (No text found.) 



SERMONS BY DR. STEPHEN H. TYNG, Sr. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

God's message to Tsrael [four sermons]. (Prepare to meet thy 
God, O Israel ) Amos 4 : 12. 

The New Creature [two sermons]. 2 Cor. 5 : 17. 

The Lord's Side. (Who is on the Lord's side ) Exod. 32 : 26. 

The Protected People. (The man with the inkhorn set a 

mark on the foreheads. . . .go through the city and smite. . . .) Ezek. 
9 : 3-6. 

The Rescued Brand. (A brand plucked out of the fire. . . .) Zech. 
3 : 2. 

The Sinner's Choice. (Not this man, but Barabbas. . . .) John 
18 : 40. 

The Christian's Rock. (Their rock is not as our Rock. . . .) Deut. 
32 : 31 

A Spiritual Famine. Amos 8 : ir, 12. 

The Valley of Decision. (The day of the Lord is near. . . .) Joel 

3 : 14. 

The Christian's Hindrances. (Hinder me not. . . . ) Gen. 24 : 56. 
Difficulties in the way of the conversion of the Aged. Jer. 6 : 4. 
The Sorrows of impenitent Old Age. Eccles. 6 : 3. 

1. What is the great object of human life. 

2. The sorrows of the man that has lived long without attaining it. 
Disappointed Procrastination. (And the days of Terah ) Gen. 

•n : 32. 

Ineffectual Repentance. (And Joab fled and laid hold on the horns 
of the altar ) 1 Kings 2 : 28. 

The Latter End. (O that they were wise. . . .) Deut. 32 : 29. 



172 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

SERMONS BY REV. JOHN SUMMERFIELD. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Spiritual Idolatry. (Ephraim is joined to idols : let him alone ) 

Hos. 4 : 17. 

Religion First. (But rather seek ye the Kingdom of God ) 

Luke 12 : 31. 

God's Love to a Perishing World. John 3 : 16. 

O that I knew where I might find him. Job 23 : 3, 4. 

The Strong Hold. Zech. 9 : 12. 

The Nature and Importance of Conveision. James 5 : 19, 20. 

Thou art weighed in the Balances. Dan. 5 : 27. 

Talents neglected are taken away. Matt. 25 : 29. 

Need of Patience. Heb. 10 : 36. 

The way of Holiness. Isa. 35 : 8, 10. 

1. A high way. 2. A holy way. 3. A plain way. 4. A safe way. 
5. A delightful way. 



SERMONS BY REV. DR. ICHABOD SPENCER. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The Depression of Believers. (Make me to hear joy and gladness ; 

that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice renew a right 

spirit within me ) Ps. 51 : 8-10. 

The Woman of Canaan in Prayer. Matt. 15 : 28. 

The Blind led in a way they knew not. Isa. 42 : 16. 

Assurance attainable. Rom. 8 : 38, 39. 

Sanctification at Death. Heb. 12 : 22, 23. 

The Chief of Sinners. 1 Tim. 1 : 15. 

1. Delay of Conversion. Argued from the Nature of Man. Ps. 
95 : 7, 8. 

2. Delay of Conversion. Argued from the Economy of the Holy 
Spirit. (Same text.) 

3. Delay of Conversion. Argued from Facts. (Same text.) 



SERMONS BY REV. C. H. SPURGEON. 173 

SERMONS BY REV. C. H. SPURGEON. 

OUTLINES. 

MOSES LIFTING UP THE SERPENT. 
Numbers g : 21. 

1. The persons in mortal peril for whom the brazen serpent was 
made and lifted up. 

They had despised God's way and God's bread. 
They had been actually bitten by the serpents. 
The bite of the serpent was painful. 
The bite of these serpents was mortal. 
There is no limit to the stages of poisoning. 

2. The remedy provided for them. 

It was purely of divine origin. 

There was but one remedy. 

The healing serpent was bright and lustrous. 

The remedy was an enduring one. 

3. The application of the remedy. 

It was very personal. 

It was very instructive. 

It magnified the love of God in Christ. 

4. The cure effected. 

They were healed at once. 

This remedy healed again and again. 

It cured all who used it. 

It cured when looked upon by moonlight as well as sunlight. 

5. A lesson for all who love the Lord. Publish Christ and His 
salvation. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The Carnal mind enmity against God. Rom. 8 : 7. [Vol. I. 
p. 230.] * 

Healing for the Wounded. (He hath smitten my life down to the 
ground ) Ps. 143 : 3. [Vol. II. 18.] 

The Sin of Unbelief. (If the Lord should make windows in 
heaven ) 2 Kings 7 : 19. [Vol. II. 50.] 

Harvest Time, t Sam. 12 : 17. [Vol. II. 232.] 

The Comer's conflict with Satan. Luke 9 : 42. [Vol. II. 296.] 

A Visit to Calvary. John 19 : 5. [Vol. II. 328.] 

* The references are to the American edition of these sermons. 



174 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Turn or Burn. Ps. 7 : 12. [Vol. II. 426.] 
The Fruitless Vine. Ezek. 15 : I, 2. [Vol. III. 58.] 
Spiritual Revival the Want of the Church. Hab. 3 : 2. [Vol. 
HI. 74-] 

The Anxious Inquirer. Job. 23 : 3. [Vol. III. go.] 

The Sinner's Refuge. Numbers 35 : n. [Vol. III. 106.] 

Secret Sins. Ps. 19 : 12. [Vol. III. 164.] 

Elijah's Appeal to the Undecided. 1 Kings 18 : 21. [Vol. III. 

I79-] 

Regeneration. John 3 : 3. [Vol. III. 210.] 

Rahab's Faith. Heb. 11 : 31. [Vol. III. 369.] 

Manasseh. 2 Chron. 23 : 13. [Vol. III. 311. J 

Why are men saved ? (Saved for his name's sake. . . .) Ps. 106 : 8. 

[Vol. 328.] 

A Mighty Saviour. Isa. 63 : 1. [Vol. III. 404.] 
The Parable of the Ark. Gen. 7 : 15. [Vol. IV. 1.] 
A Time of Finding Lost Sheep. Ezek. 34 : 16. [Vol. IV. 3.] 
The Prodigal's Return. Luke 15 : 20. [Vol. IV. 145.] 
A Call to the Unconverted. (For as many as are of the works of 

the law, are under the curse. . . .) Gal. 3 : 10. [Vol. IV. 223.] 
The Warning Neglected. Ezek. 33 : 5. [Vol. IV. 240.] 
What have I done ? Jer. 8 : 6. [Vol. IV. 258.] 
Awake ! Awake ! 1 Thess. 5 : 6. [Vol. IV. 316.] 
The Voice of the Blood of Christ. Heb. 12 : 24. [Vol. V. 65.] 
The New Heart. Ezek. 36 : 26. [Vol. V. 81.] 
Declension from first love. Rev. 2 : 4. [Vol. V. 164.] 
Looking unto Jesus. Ps. 34 : 5. [Vol. V. 253.] 
The Blood. Exodus 12 : 13. [Vol. V. 303.] 
The Great Revival. (The Lord hath made bare his holy arm. . . . 

and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. . . .) 

Isa. 52 : 10. [Vol. V. 336.] 

The World turned upside down. Acts 17 : 6. [Vol. V. 402.] 

Human Responsibility. John 15 : 22. [Vol. V. 420.]" 

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10 : 44. [Vol. VI. 31.] 

The Sympathy of the Two Worlds. Luke 15 : 10. [Vol. VI. 47.] 

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Acts 26 : 14. [Vol. VI. 61.] 

The Mission of the Son of Man. Luke 19 : 10. [Vol. VI. 92.] 

The Earnest Invitation. Ps. 2 : 12. [Vol. VI. 109.] 

How Saints may help the Devil. Ezek. 16 : 54. [Vol. VI. 125.] 

The Necessity of the Spirit's Work. Ezek. 36 : 27. [Vol. VI. 186.] 

The Meek and Lowly One. Matt. 11 : 28-30. [Vol. VI. 366.] 

The Blind Beggar. Mark 10 : 46-52, [Vol. VI. 399. J 



SERMONS BY REV. C. H. SPURGE ON. 175 

The King's Highway Opened. Acts 16 : 31. [Vol. VII. 20.] 
Remember Death. Deut. 32 : 29. [Vol. VII. 126.] 
A blast of the trumpet against false peace. Jer. 6 : 14. [Vol. 
VII. 177,] 

A Revival Sermon. (The ploughman shall overtake the reaper. . . . 
and the hills shall melt. . . .) Amos 9 : 13. [Vol. VII. 227.] 

None but Jesus, or Christ as the Object of Faith. John 3 : 18. 
[Vol. VII. 259.] 

The Chaff driven away. Ps. 1 : 4. [Vol. VII. 293.] ' 
Cleansing the Leper. Levit. 13 : 12, 13. [Vol. VII. 311.] 
Come and Welcome. Rev. 22 : 17. [Vol. VII. 344.] 
The First Resurrection. Rev. 20 : 4, 5, 6, 12. [Vol. VII. 39.] 
A Hearer in Disguise. (Why feigneth thou thyself to be an- 
other?. . . ") 1 Kings 14 : 6. [Vol. VIII. 79.] 
Expiation. Isa. 53 : 10. [Vol. VIII. 96.] 
Nothing but leaves. Mark 11 : 13. [Vol. VIII. 168.] 
The Great Liberator. John 8 : 36. [Vol. VIII. 187.] 
The Cripple at Lystra. Acts 14 : 9, 10. [Vol. VIII. 241.] 
Labor in Vain. Jonah 1 : 12, 13. [Vol. VIII. 335.] 
Your own Salvation. Philip. 2 : 12. [Vol. IX. 34.] 
Continuance with Jesus possible. Matt. 14 •, 16. [Vol. IX. 54.] 
The Unalterable Statute. Heb. 9 : 22. [Vol. IX. 117.] 
Ephraim bemoaning himself. Jer. 31 : 18. [Vol. IX. 206.] 
Jesus at Bethesda. John 5 : 1-9. [Vol. IX. 225.] 
Bread enough to spare. Luke 15 : 17. [Vol. IX. 264.] 
The Alarum. Ps. 57 : 8. [Vol. IX. 342.] 

The Withering Work of the Holy Spirit. Isa. 40 : 6-8. [Vol. 
IX. 362.] 

Negotiations for Peace. Acts 10 : 36. [Vol. IX. 402.] 
Jesus only. Matt. 17 : 8, [Vol. IX. 419.] 
Rest, Rest. Matt. 11 : 28-30. [Vol. IX. 437.] 
Carried by Four. Luke 5 : 16-26. [Vol. IX. 456.] 
Jesus no Phantom. Matt. 14 : 26. [Vol. IX. 476.] 
Very singular. (And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was 
not followed he hanged himself....) 2 Sam. 17:23. [Vol. 

IX. 496.] 

Without money and without price. Isa. 55 : 1. [Vol. X. 87.] 

The Question of the Day. Matt. 22 : 42. [Vol. X. 107.] 

An Old-fashioned Conversion. Job 33 : 29, 30. [Vol. X. 147.] 

Harvest Men Wanted. Matt. 9 : 37, 38. [Vol. X. 167.] 

The Little Dogs. Matt. 15 : 26, 27, and Mark 7 : 27, 28. [Vol. 

X. 360.] 



176 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

^neas. Acts 9 : 32-35. [Vol. X. 379.] 
Our cure should be radical. Jer. 8 : 11. 



SERMONS BY REV. JABEZ S. SWAN. 

OUTLINES. 

THE HARVEST OF SOULS. 
Matt. 9 : 37, 38. 

1. The lordship of Christ over the souls of men. 

a. God has given Him power over all flesh. 

b. He died and rose again, that he might be Lord, etc. 

c. Such lordship reveals His compassion for the multitude. 

d. Such lordship indicates his ability to meet the needs of the har- 
vest field, etc. 

2. The method devised by Christ to secure sufficient laborers to 
gather the harvest. 

a. He will supply the field in answer to prayer. 

b. Thus He throws the responsibility of supplying the field on the 
disciples. 

c. Thus He would teach them that the proper kind of reapers are 
those alone which Christ Himself sends. 

d. Thus all who are sent will be welcomed by those already in the 
field. 

e. Thus they are prepared for greater union with Christ, and for the 
efforts which the demands of the field excite. 

3. Motives by which the disciples are urged to call on the Lotd. 

a. The plenteousness of the harvest, etc. 

b. The scarcity of actual laborers. 

c. The ability of Christ to send laborers. 

d. If the sickle is not put in, what will be the consequences ? 

THE EFFECT OF COMMUNION WITH GOD. 
Exod. 34 : 29. 

1. Communion with God assimilates to His likeness. 

2. Likeness to God may exist, though it be obscure to its possessor. 

FIXING OUR MINDS ON CHRIST. 
Matt. 14 : 30. 

i. Attention diverted from Christ forebodes evil. 
2. The remedy found in reclaimed attention. 



SERMONS BY REV. JABEZ S. SWAN. 177 

EVANGELISTIC INDUSTRY. 
Mark 26 : 20. 

Doctrine : Industry in Religion secures corresponding success. 

1. The industry which the religion of Christ demands. 

2. The manner in which God has secured its success. 

FISHERS OF MEN MUST BE OBEDIENT TO CHRIST. 
Luke 5 : 5. 
i. The commands of Christ the law of Christian action. 
2. Obedience to His commands secures large success. 

THE DANGER OF MAKING EXCUSES. 
Luke 14 : 19. 
i. The nature of the excuses for refusing the Gospel invitations. 
2. These excuses liable to exclude those who make them from the 
happiness of heaven. 

SELF-EXAMINATION. 
John 21 : 17. 

1. The necessity of such questions among professors. 

2. The reply which true religion will furnish. 

THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST. 
Acts 1 : 8. 

1. The proper preparation for an interest in revivals. 

2. The object to be accomplished by those who are thus qualified. 

CHRISTIANS BOUGHT WITH A PRICE. 
1 Cor. 6 : 20. 

1. Ye belong to God by purchase, both body and spirit. 

2. The object of God in this purchase. 

3. The purchase paid is the motive to action. 

THE CONCOMITANTS OF SALVATION. 
Heb. 6 : 9. 

1. Things which accompany salvation in its attainment. 

2. Things which accompany its enjoyment. 

WORKS THAT SHOW LUKEWARMNESS. 
Rev. 3 : 16. 
Doctrine : Religious Indifference. 

1. Its criminality. 

2. Its offensiveness to God. 

3. Its danger. 



178 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

SPIRITUAL DEATH AND LIFE. 
2 Cor. 6 : 9. 

Doctrine : In the Kingdom of God, death the harbinger of life. 

1. The death which is the harbinger of life. 

2. The life which follows death. 

TEMPORAL HINDRANCES. 
Regard not your stuff Gen. 45 : 20. 

Doctrine : Lesser good should be sacrificed to the greater. 

THE HOLY ROD CAST UPON THE GROUND. 
Exod. 4 : 2-4. 
The dreadful results of casting down holy things. Among holy things 
are : 

1. Fallen vows. 

2. Prostration of secret, family and public altars. 

3. The only way to get out of this danger is to take hold of the 
serpent. 

EXHORTATION TO LAY HOLD OF CHRIST BY FAITH. 
" Lay hold on eternal life." 

PUTTING ON STRENGTH. 
Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion Isa. 52 : 1. 

1. What Christian strength is. God is our strength. " The Lord is 
thy strength and shield." Suppose that the shield is laid aside, etc. 

2. Importance of obtaining this strength. 

a. Without this strength no man is able to do anything. We may 
resolve, but without this strength we cannot carry out our resolutions. 

b. Without it we have no ability to prevail with our brethren. 

c. Nor with the unconverted. 

d. Nor with God. 

3. How to obtain it. 

a. We must prevail with God. 

b. Jacob had power with God and with man, etc. 

4. Decision of action is demanded. Why? 

THE RELATIONS OF COURAGE AND STRENGTH. 
Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. 
Ps. 31 : 24. 

i. Fearlessness in religious life. 

a. The timidity of human hearts must be overcome. 

b. This timidity baffles all attempts to glorify God. 

2. The strength which is accumulated by fearlessness in religion. 



SERMONS BY EDWARD PAYSON, D.D. 179 

a. Every department of religious life demands a high and com- 
manding fortitude. 

(a) It is needed to endure hardships and severe toil. 
(/?) To meet frowning aspects and events. 

b. The promises of God are made for the exigencies of Christian life, 
(a) For the renewal of fortitude in labor." He that reapeth receiveth 

wages." 

(j3) The soul that is utterly disabled may fall back upon the prom- 
ise : He giveth power to the faint. 

c. This strengthens the heart. 

(a) The heart without this strength palsies all the powers of the soul. 

(/3) With it the heart is mighty in working the work of God. 

(7) Inspires high hopes o£ success : " Ye that hope in the Lord." 

Conclusion. 

1. Be courageous and strong, fcr the time is short. 

2. For the enemy is alert. 

3. For your divine Leader is worthy. 



SERMONS BY EDWARD PAYSON, D.D. 

OUTLINE. 

THE OLD WAY WHICH WICKED MEN HAVE TRODDEN. 
Job 22 : 15-17. 

1. Let us consider the way itself. 

2. The termination of this way. 

Application. 

1. Are any of you walking in this way ? 

2. If you are walking therein, forsake it without delay. 

SINS ESTIMATED IN THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN. 
Ps. 90 : 8 . 

Introduction : If we would know what our sins really are we must 
regard them in the same light that God does. 

1. Bring forward our iniquities, or our more open and gross sins, 
and see how they appear in the light of God's countenance. 

2. Bring our secret sins, the sins of the heart, into heaven, and see 
how they will appear in that world of unclouded light. 

3. Let us take a similar view of our sins of omission. 



180 REVIVAL SERVICE. 



Conclusion. 



You perceive the reason why your sins appear more numerous and 
more criminal in the sight of God than they do in your own. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

- Men tried and found defective. Dan. 5 : 27. 

Our sins infinite in number and enormity. (Is not thy wickedness 
great ) Job 22 : 5. 

The wicked, from pride, refuse to seek God. Ps. 10 : 4. 

Recollections of God painful to the wicked. Ps. 77 : 3. 

Sinners wilful and perverse. (They are like children sitting in the 
market place. . . .) (Luke 7 : 31-35. 

Amiable instincts not holiness. (The God of peace sanctify you 
wholly. . . .) 1 Thes. 5 : 23. 

The Final Judgment. 2 Cor. 15 : 10. 

The sinner entreated to hear God's voice. Heb. 3 : 7-8. 

The difficulty of escaping the damnation of hell. Matt. 23 : 33. 

The Mark of Deliverance. Ezek. 9 : 4-6. 

The punishment of the wicked dreadful and interminable. Mark 

9 = 44- 

Sinners in Zion described and doomed. Amos 6 : 1. 

A class of sinners excluded from mercy. (When the boughs are 
withered, they are broken off ; the women came and set them on 
fire. . . .) Isa. 27 : 11. 

Punishment of the impenitent inevitable and justifiable. Jer. 22 : 24. 

The guilt of indifference to divine threatenings. Jer. 26 : 24. 

The sin, danger, and unreasonableness of despair. Jer. 18 : 12. 

The stubborn sinner submitting to God. (As a bullock unaccus- 
tomed to the yoke. . . .) Jer. 31 : 18-20. 

Christ rejects none who come unto- him. John : 37. 

Christ's special tenderness toward penitent disciples. Mark 16 : 7. 

Christ the Saviour of the lost. Luke 19 : 10. 

Man's treatment of Christ. (They will reverence my son....) 
Maik 12 : 6. 

An assembly convoked against sinners. Neh. 5 : 7. 

Why the wicked are spared for a season. Gen. 15 : 16. 

The sleeper awakened. (What meanest thou, O sleeper. . . .) Jonah 
1 : 6. 

Joy in heaven over repenting sinners. Luke 15 : 10. 

How little children are prevented from coming to Christ. Mark 

10 : 14. 



SERMON'S BY REV. ORSON PARKER. 181 

How to prolong the gracious visils of Christ. Luke 4 : 42. 
An early interest in God's mercy essential to a happy life. Ps. 
90 : 14. 



SERMONS BY REV. ORSON PARKER. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Self-Examination. (Search me, and know my heart. . . .) Ps. 139 : 
23, 24. 

Building up the Walls of the Church. Neh. 2 : 17, 18. 

The conditions God requires before blessing His people. 2 Chron. 
7 : 14- 

Do you really believe your Articles of Faith ? (Any man upon 
whom is the mark. . . .and begin at my sanctuary. . . .) Ezek. 9 : 6. 

" Their strength is to sit still." Isa. 30 : 7. Idleness and neglect of 
professors reproved. 

Prayer of the Church for Help. 2 Chron. 20 : 4. 

The Settlement of Difficulties. Rom. 12 : 1. 

Providence calls upon us to seek the conversion of our relatives. 
("Who knoweth whether Thou art come to the Kingdom for such a 
time as this ?" Esther 4 : 14.) 

Religion all-important. "Isitnotso?" Judges 14 : 15. 

How long wilt thou sleep ? Prov. 6 : 9. 

Ye must be born again. John 3 : 3. 

Is it nothing to you ? Lam. 1 : 12. 

The one thing needful. Luke 10 : 41. 

The sinners' excuses. Luke 9 : 61. 

Repentance. (Repent ye, and believe the gospel ) Mark 1 : 15. 

How sinners fail to become Christians. Mark 5 : 26. 

Morality alone saves no one. Rom. 3 : 20. 

The way to be saved. Acts 16 : 30. 

The early conversion of children. Prov. 22 : 6. 

Is it well with thee ? 2 Kings 4 : 26. 

Joshua's resolution. Josh. 24 : 15. 

I will pay my vows. Ps. 66 : 13, 14. 

Now is the accepted time. 2 Cor. 6 : 2. 

The Jailer and Felix contrasted. Acts 16 : 30 ; 24 : 25. 

As the will is, so is the man. (I will arise and go to my father, 
and will say. . . .) Luke 15 : 18. 

The almost Christian is lost. Acts 26 : 28. 



1 82 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The sinner crossing the line. (I gave her space to repent, and she 
repented not.) Rev. 2:21. 

The danger of halting half way. (Remember Lot's wi e.) Luke 
17 : 32. 

Private fasting for friends. (This kind goeth not out but by prayer 
and fasting ) Matt. 17 : 20. 

God will send His blessings as long as the people will receive 
them. (And the oil stayed.) 2 Kings 4 : 6. 

Why should the work cease ? Neh. 6 : 3. 

Farewell address to young converts. Josh. 24 : 22. 



SERMONS BY REV. G. F. PENTECOST. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The Gospel coming in power. (Not in word only, frut in power.) 
1 Thess. 1:5. 

Keeping ourselves in the love of God. Jude 20, 21. 

Helpers and Hinderers. (One sick of the palsy borne of four. . . . 
they could not come nigh unto him for the press. . . .) Mark 2 : 1-12. 

The Genius of the Gospel the Germ of Foreign Missions. Mark 
16 : 15. 

Wordsto young converts. Exod. 14 : 15. 

The Christian and the Ball-room. Isa. 47 ; 7, 8. 

Christ and Christian. Acts n : 26. 

Pharisaism. Matt. 5 : 20. 

Bible Readings. 

1. Old Testament. 

2. Genesis. 

3. Exodus. 

4. New Testament. 

5. Parable of the Sower. 

6. The Good Seed and. the Tares. 

7. The Leaven. 

8. Christ the Hidden Treasure. 

9. Simon and the Sinful Woman, 

10. The Vine. 

11. The Sixth of Romans. 



SERMONS BY ASAHEL NETTLE TON, D.D. 183 

12. The Taking of Jericho. (Joshua, chap. 6.) 

13. Christ's Resurrection. 

14. Eternal Redemption. 



SERMONS BY ASAHEL NETTLETON, D.D. 

OUTLINES. 

CHRISTIANS URGED TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP. 
Rom. 13 : 11. 

i. When the Christian may be said to be asleep. 

2. Offer some motives which ought to induce him to awake. 

SINNERS AFFECTIONATELY ENTREATED TO BEGIN THE CHRISTIAN 
PILGRIMAGE. 

Num. 10 : 29. 

1. Christians are journeying. 

2. Christians desire others, and especially their kindred, to journey 
with them. 

3. Those whom they cannot persuade to go with them they must 
give the parting hand. 

THE SIN AND CONSEQUENCES OF BEING ASHAMED OF CHRIST. 
Luke 9 : 26. 

1. Who are ashamed of Christ. 

2. The greatness of this sin. 

3. The consequences of it. 

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP. 
Luke 15 : 3-7. 
Introduction : The nature of Christ's parables — When the parable 
was spoken — For what purpose — Who are the just persons here men- 
tioned ? The subject suggests the following reflections : 

1. Sinners are lost. 

2. Christ knows His own sheep. If one of them begone astray, He 
knows it. 

3. Christ seeks and finds the sinner. 

4. How great must be the joy occasioned by the repentance of one 
sinner. 

5. The repentance of every sinner when first discovered, is the 
cause of new joy. 



1 84 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

6. What must have been the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees 
who murmured because publicans and sinners were converted. 

THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. 

Luke 15 : n-25. 
An Exposition : 

1. The Departing Prodigal. 

2. The Returning Prodigal. 

INDECISION IN RELIGION. 
1 Kings 18 : 21. 
i. Why you have hitherto neglected to come to a decided choice. 
2. How long do you purpose to halt ? 

THE FEARFUL CONDITION OF APOSTATES. 
Matt. 12 : 43-45. 
We shall consider the parable as applicable — 

1. To the Jews. 

2. To sinners under the Gospel. 

THE DANGER OF HYPOCRISY. 
Parable of the Virgins. Matt. 25 : 1-8. 

From this parable we learn : 

1. That many professors of religion will finally be lost. 

2. Persons who appear alike now may possess characters widely 
different in the sight of God. 

3. It should be our great and constant purpose to be prepared for 
the coming of Christ. 

4. Real Christians, even the best of them, are never too much en- 
gaged in religion. 

5. We see in what lies the distinction between true and false pro- 
fessors of religion — not in the head, but in the heart. 

6. We learn from this subject the true reason why so many pro- 
fessors of religion will be lost. They do not begin right. 

THE GREAT SALVATION. 
Heb. 2 : 3. 

i. In what the greatness of this salvation consists. 

2. Who are guilty of neglecting this salvation. 

3. The import of the language, " How shall we escape?" 

SELF-EXAMINATION. 
2 Cor. 13 : 5. 

i. A person may be a Christian without certainly knowing it. 
2. He who is a true Christian may know it. 



SERMONS BY A SAHEL NE TTLE TON, D. D. 1 85 

CHRIST COMING TO JUDGMENT. 
Matt. 25 : 31, 32. 

1. The certainty of Christ's coming as Judge. 

2. The time of His coming. 

3. The manner of His coming. (Two sermons.) 

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. 
Luke 16 : 19-31. 
The occasion and matter of the parable. 

Remarks. 

1. Those who die Christians go immediately to heaven. 

2. Those who die sinners go immediately to hell. 

3. All sinners will pray sooner or later. 

4. Those who lose their souls will remember what took place on 
earth. 

5. We see what the damned would say, were they to come back to 
this world. 

6. We learn that sinners in hell are not yet convinced of the awful 
depravity of the heart. The rich man thought that moral suasion, if 
increased to a certain amount, would be sufficient to bring sinners to 
repentance. 

7. Finally learn from this subject that our Saviour was a very plain 
preacher. 

MORTIFICATION OF SIN. 

Gal. 5 : 24. 
i. What it implies. 

2. Wherein it resembles crucifixion. Under the second head he 
gives four points of resemblance. 

a. The death of the cross was a violent death. 

b. The death of the cross was a shameful death. 

c. It was a lingering death. 

d. It was a painful death. 

3. The means of promoting it. 

SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. 

1. Evidence that the work is begun and is in progress. 

2. Inferences from the whole subject. 

3. Motives to engage immediately in the duty. 

SINNERS ENTREATED TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD. 
2 Cor. 5 : 20. 

1. What is implied in being reconciled to God. 

2. To beseech impenitent hearers to be thus reconciled. 



1 86 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

THE FOLLY OF MAKING A HYPOCRITICAL PROFESSION OF RELIGION. 
Matt. 25 : 2. 

1. "What is required in a wise profession of religion ? 

2. Why some profess religion without possessing it. 

3. Why they are called foolish. 

CHRIST STANDING AT THE DOOR. 
Rev. 3 : 20. 
An exposition, concluding with reflections. The text is introduced 
with a note of admiration — " Behold !" 

1. " Behold" the greatness of our Redeemer. 

2. "Behold "the depth of Christ's condescension. 

3. " Behold " his willingness to receive sinners. 

4. " Behold " your danger. 

THE SINNER SLAIN BY THE LAW. 
Rom. 7 : 9. 

1. The life which Paul lives. 

2. The death which he died. 

3. Reflections. 

a. Many think themselves to be Christians when they are not. They 
have not been under conviction of sin. 

b. We see the importance of preaching the law. 

c. Sinners that are under conviction realize that they are becoming 
worse and worse. 

d. The preaching of the gospel will distress sinners more and more, 
while unreconciled to God. 

e. The sooner sinners die in the sense of the text, the better. 

THE NECESSITY OF REGENERATION NO MATTER OF WONDER. 
John 3 : 7. 
Sinners would not be happy if taken to heaven without a change of 
heart. Object is to prove this declaration. 

1. It is a holy place. 

2. A place of ineffable glory. 

3. The inhabitants of heaven are holy. 

4. The employments of heaven are holy. 

GOD'S SPIRIT WILL NOT ALWAYS STRIVE. 
Gen. 6:3. 

i. The fact that the Spirit does strive with men. 

2. The fact that He will not always strive. 

3. The consequences of His ceasing to strive. 



SERMONS BY ASAHEL NETTLETON, D.D. 187 



THE TWO THIEVES. 
Luke 23 : 39-43. 

i. In what respects they were alike. 

2. In what respects they differed. 

3. What made the difference. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Preaching to the conviction of sinners. John 4 : 29. 

The wrath of man praising God. Ps. 73 : 10. 

Men mistake their own character. Matt. 23 : 30. 

Whose prayer is it that is not answered. James 1 : 7. 

They all with one consent began to make excuse. Luke 14 : 18. 

True repentance not antecedent to regeneration. (Surely after that 

1 turned, I repented . . .) Jer. 31 : 19. 

The Perseverance of the Saints. (He that hath begun a good work 
in you. . . .) Philip. 1 : 6. 

Death (a sermon preached on the last Sunday in the year). (O that 
they were wise, that they understood this. . . .) Deut. 32 : 29. 

The duty of fasting, and the manner of its observance. Neh. 1 : 4. 

The ruin of all such as do not seek salvation. Luke 13 : 24. 

Some now alive greater sinners than some who are in hell. 
(Suppose ye that all these Galileans were sinners above all the Gali- 
leans. . . .) Luke 13 : 1-5. 

The government of God matter of rejoicing. Ps. 97 : 1. 

Religion the source of true happiness (addressed to youth). Prov. 
3 : 13. 

The backslider restored. Ps. 51 : 12, 13. 

Total Depravity. Gen. 6 : 5. 

Sins covered. (He that covereth his sins shall not prosper....) 
Prov. 28 : 13. 

The example of Esau. Heb. 12 : 16. 

Causes of alarm. (Men and brethren, what shall we do ?) Acts 2 : 37. 

Come to Christ for rest. Matt. 11 : 28-30. 

The Nature and Reasonableness of Repentance. Acts 17 : 30. 

The Remembered Prediction. (After three days I will rise again.) 
Matt. 27 : 63. 

Salvation for the Lost. Luke 19 : 10. 

Judicial Credulity. (God shall send them strong delusion....) 

2 Thess. 2 : 11, 12. 

The sovereignty of God in conversion. Rom. 9 : 16. 
Ye know not what spirit ye are of. Luke 9 : 54, 55. 



1 88 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Affliction preventing a sinner from following Christ. (Suffer me 
first to go and bury my father.) Luke 9 : 59. 

Different Experiences of Converts 1 Cor. 12 : 6. 

Thinking on our ways, and making haste to find God's way. Ps. 
119 : 59, 60. 

Christ's appeal to us to rise up against evil-doers. Ps. 94 : 16. 

Shut in, or shut out of the house. (When once the master of the 
house he is risen up, and hath shut to the door. . . .) Luke 13 : 25. 

Agree with thine adversary quickly. Matt. 5 : 25. 

Many die eternally because they will not give up some sin. Ezek. 
33 : 11. 



SERMONS AND READINGS BY D. L. MOODY. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Courage in the Work of the Lord. Joshua 1 : 6. 

His own Brother. John 1 : 41. 

Stones to be rolled away. John 11 : 39. 

Power of Faith. (And when he saw their faith. . . .) Luke 5 : 20. 

Compassion and Sympathy. (Who is my neighbor? . . .) Luke 
10 : 29. 

A Solemn Question. (And the Lord God called unto Adam....) 
Gen. 3 : 9. 

What Christ is to us. (Unto you is born this day in the city of 
David. . . .) Luke 2 : 11. 

Enthusiasm in the work of the Lord. (For the zeal of thine house 
hath ) Ps. 69 : 9. 

Our first Duty. Matt. 6 : 33. 

"Walking with God. Gen. 5 : 24. 

Our Lord's Return. 2 Tim. 3 : 16. 

Reaping and Gathering Fruit. John 4 : 36. 

Laying up Treasures in Heaven. Matt. 6 : 20. 

Serm. I. The Holy Spirit and his Work. Acts 19 : 2. 

Serm. II. Man's relations to the Holy Spirit. John 14 : 17. 

Serm. III. By it we are made free from the Law. (No text.) 

Serm. IV. The Power of the Holy Spirit. (No text.) 

The Prophet Daniel. Dan. 1 : 8. 

Christian Work. Dan. 11 : 32. 

Responsibilities of Parents. Deut. 5 : 29 and 6 : 7. 

The Lost seeking Christ. Isa. 55 : 6. 



SERMONS AND READINGS BY D. L. MOODY. 189 

Christ seeking the Lost. Luke 19 : 10. 

Lost and Saved. (Same text.) 

Heaven, and who are there. (No text.) 

Grace. (No text.) 

Same subject continued. (No text.) 

On being born again. John 3 : 3. 

The Brazen Serpent. John 3 : 14, 15. < 

Faith, and how to get it. (O woman great is thy faith. . . .) Matt. 
15 : 28. 

Two Sermons on the Blood of Chrisr. 

Serm. I. Tracing the Scarlet Thread. Heb. 9 : 22. 

Serm. II. The Blood of the New Testament. Matt. 26 : 28. 

How God loves Men. 1 John 4 : 16. 

God hates sin and loves the sinner. (Same text.) 

Jesus died for our sins. 1 Cor. 15 : 3. 

The Sinner's Excuses. Luke 14 : 19. 

Serm. I. The Glorious Gospel. Luke 4 : 18. 

Serm. II. The Friend of the Sorrowing. (Same text.) 

Serm. III. Deliverance for Captives. (Same text.) 

Serm. IV. The Blind Cured. (Same text.) 

Seeking and Finding the Lord. Isa. 55 : 6, 7. 

Repentance. (The times of this ignorance. . . .but now commandeth 
all men everywhere to repent. . . .) Acts 17 : 30. 

Universality of the Gospel offer. Mark 16 : 15, 16. 

The Prodigal Son. Luke 15 : 36. 

Lessons from Paul's Conversion. (No text.) 

Confessing Christ. Rom. 10 : 9-1 1. 

Naaman. 2 Kings 5. 

How memory torments the lost soul. Luke 16 : 25. 

How to study the Bible. Acts 8 : 30. 

The five One Things of Scripture. (Five texts.) 

Regeneration instantaneous. (No text.) 

The Beholds of the Bible. (Many texts.) 

The best methods with Inquirers. (No text.) 

Christ Jesus the God-Man. Matt. 22 : 42. 

Young Men should decide for God. 1 Kings 18 : 21. 

Praise an element of power. (The joy of the Lord is your 
strength Neh. 8 : 10. 

Weighed in the balances of the Law. Dan. 5 : 27. 

The Eight I wills of Christ. (Eight texts.) 

Lot in Sodom. Gen. 13 : 12. 

Their rock not equal to ours. Deut. 32 : 31. 



i 9 o REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Christ either received or rejected. Matt. 27 : 22. 

The Rich Fool. Luke 12 : 20. 

The Pharisee and the Publican. Luke 18 : 9-14. 

What shall the harvest be ? (For whatever a man soweth, that 
shall he also reap ) Gal. 6 : 7-9. 

Sermon to erring women. Luke 5 : 32. 

The Ten comes of Scripture. (Ten texts.) 

How to be saved. Acts 16 : 30. 

The Resurrection of Christ. (No text.) 

Jesus in Prophecy. (The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of proph- 
ecy ) Rev. 19 : 10. 

Christ the Wonderful. Isa. 9 : 6. 

Christ working for us. and we working for others. (Now our Lord 

Jesus Christ himself stablish you in every good word and work. 

2 Thes. 2 : 16-17. 

Who are Christians? 1 John 3 : 14. 

Instant salvation. (No text.) 

Jesus and John the Baptist. Matt. 3 : 13. 

The miracle of the Conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Acts 9:11. 

Address to Reformed Men. (No text.) 

The faith of Caleb and Joshua. (Let us go up at once and possess 
it ; for we are able to overcome it. . . .) Num. 13 : 30. 

Saved or Lost. (No text.) 

Perseverance, or Be not weary in well doing. Gal. 6 : 9. 

Life and Character of Jacob. (No text.) 

Life and Character of Joshua. (No text.) 

Life and Character of Ahab. (No text.) 

Life and Character of Peter. (No text.) 

God's love to the sinner. (No text.) 

One thing thou lackest. Luke 18 : 22. 

Christ in the Old Testament. (Several texts.) 

Christ in the New Testament. (Several texts.) 

Christ as a Shepherd. (Several texts.) 

God's despised instruments. (But God hath chosen the foolish 
things of the world. . . .) 1 Cor. 1 : 27. 

Salvation, addressed to Women. (Several texts.) 

The Second Coming of Christ. (Stveral texts.) 

Farewell sermon : God able to keep the Converts. Rom. 14 : 4. 

BIBLE READINGS. 

I. The Divinity of Christ. 1st chap, of John. 
Christ's Miracle at Cana. 2d chap, of John. 



SERMONS BY REV. W. J. KNOX LITTLE. 191 

The New Birth. 3d chap, of John. 

Christ the Water of Life. 41I1 chap, of John. 

Christ the Physician. 5th chap of John. 

Christ the Bread of Life. 6th chap, of John. 

Christ the Fountain of Living Water*. 7th chap, of John. 

II. Christ, His Divinity. 8ih chap, of John. 
Christ, restoring the Blind. 9th chap, of John. 
Christ the Good Shepherd. 10th chap, of John. 

III. Christ, His Divinity, nth chap, of John. 

The Miracle wrought through Peter. Acts, 3d chap. 
Confession the Key to Salvation. Rom., 10th chap. 



SERMONS BY REV. JOHN NEWLAND 
MAFFITT.* 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Moses' Choice. Heb. n : 4-25. 
Search the Scriptures. John 5 : 39. 
The Sufferings of Christ. Matt. 26 : 38. 
The Messiah's Reign. 1 Cor. 15 : 25. 
Pure and undefiled religion. Jas. 1 : 27. 
Jacob's Ladder. Gen. 2 : 17. 

The Angel flying in the midst of heaven preaching the Gospel. 
Rev. 14 : 6. 

Paul's review of his conflicts. 2 Tim. 4 : 7. 
Despisers that wonder and perish. Acts 13 : 41. 
The fall of Nebuchadnezzar. Dan. 4 : 13, 14. 
The Vision of the Dry Bones. Ezek. 37 : 4. 
The Judgment Day. (No text.) 



SERMONS BY REV W. J. KNOX LITTLE, M.A., 

. Rector of St. Alb an s, Manchester, England. 

Mr. Little, along with Canon Reynolds Hole, has been 
very active in preaching "missions." He excels as an extem- 

* There are two other existing sermons of Mr. Maffitt — a fast day sermon from 
Isa. 5 : 4, 5 ; another entitled The Christian's Encouragement in the Way to the 
Heavenly Canaan, i Tim. i : 15. See Methodist Preacher, edited by D. Holmes, 
Auburn, N. Y., 1852. 



192 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

porizer, and not a few of his sermons have been reported by 
phonographers. A considerable number of these have been re- 
vised by himself and published in volumes. The present list 
is derived from three books published in 1880 and 1881, 
entitled, "Characteristics and Motives of the Christian Life," 
Sermons Preached at Manchester ; ' ' The Mystery of the 
Passion of our Most Holy Redeemer. ' ' 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

CHRISTIAN WORK. 
I must work the work of him John 9 : 4. 

i. The Nature of the Christian's Work. 
2. The Solemnity of his Work. 

THE CHRISTIAN ADVANCE. 

If ye be risen with Christ. Col. 3 : 1. 

CHRISTIAN WATCHING. 

Watch therefore ; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matt. 24 : 42. 

CHRISTIAN BATTLE. 

Now therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 2 : 3. 

CHRISTIAN SUFFERING. 

To make the Captain of their salvation perfect through suffering. Heb. 2 : 10. 

CHRISTIAN JOY. 

Who for the joy that was set before him Heb. 12 : 2. 

FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS. 

Blessed are ye when men shall revile you Matt. 5 : 11. 

THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST. 
Come unto me, all ye that labor. . . . Matt. 11 : 28. 

THE SOUL INSTRUCTED OF GOD. 

Come now, and let us reason together, Isa. 1 : 18. 

THE CLAIMS OF GOD UPON THE SOUL. 

Behold, all souls are mine. Ezek. 17 : 4. 

THE SUPERNATURAL POWERS OF THE SOUL. 

What is man that thou art mindful of him and hast crowned him with glory and 

honor. Ps. 8 : 4, 5. 

THE SOUL IN THE WORLD AND AT THE JUDGMENT. 
1 Cor. 7:31; Rom. 14 : 10. 



SERMONS BY REV. JACOB KNAP P. 193 

THE LAW OF PREPARATION. 

And at midnight there was a cry Matt. 25 : 6. 

THE PRINCIPLE OF PREPARATION. 
Thou desirest truth in the inward parts Ps. 51 : 6. 

THE TEMPFR OF PREPARATION. 
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. 5 : 8. 

THE ENERGY OF PREPARATION. 
Seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent. 2 Pet. 3 : 14. 

THE SOUL'S NEED AND GOD'S NATURE. 
My soul thirsteth for God . . . Ps. 42 : 2. 

SERMONS ON THE MYSTERY OF THE PASSION OF THE REDEEMER. 

1. The Mystery of Humiliation. Phil. 2 : 7, 8. 

2. The Mystery of Sorrow. Isa. 53 : 3. 

3. The Mystery of Suffering. Phil. 3 : 10. 

4. The Mystery of Sacrifice. 1 Pet. 1 : 18, 19. 

5. The Mystery of Power. 1 Cor. 1 : 23, 24. 

6. The Mystery of Death. 1 Cor. 15 : 3. 

7. The Mystery of the Grave. 1 Cor. 1 : 3, 4. 

8 The Mystery of Loyalty — The Master and Slave — Paul a slave 
of Jesus Christ. Rom. 1 : 1. 

9. The Mystery of Peace. John 16 : 33. 
10. The Revelation of the Mystery. Rev. 1 : 7. 



SERMONS BY REV. JACOB KNAPP. 

OUTLINES. 

Balaam's prayer. 

Let me die the death of the righteous Num. 23 : 10. 

Introduction : Balaam's Character. 

1. Some reasons why the death of the righteous is preferable to 
that of the wicked. 

a. Because the sting of death is taken away from the hearts of the 
righteous, while it remains in the hearts of the wicked. 

Illustrations : Payson and a Christian mother dying calmly and joy- 
fully. Contrasted with death of Voltaire, Hobbs, Thomas Paine. 

b. Because angels will attend the dying bed of the one, while devils 
will wait at the bedside of the other. 



194 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

c. Because the one is put in possession of his real treasures, while 
the other leaves all his fancied treasures behind. 

d. The righteous will join their departed friends, while the wicked 
will be shut out from theirs. 

e. The righteous will at death be delivered from their last enemy, 
but the wicked will be delivered into the power of their worst enemies. 

/. The lighteous will look forward to the morning of the resur- 
rection with delight. Not so with the wicked ; they will regard that 
day with dark forebodings. 

g. The desires of the one will be more than realized ; but the fears 
of the other will be exceeded by the evils that shall come upon them. 

h. The one will cease from his labors ; the other will just commence 
his. 

i. All the attainments of the good in this world have laid the foun- 
dation of future glory and blessedness ; but all the attainments of the 
wicked have only laid the foundation of eternal misery. 

Inferences. 

i. There are many who pray like Balaam, " Let me die the death 
of the righteous," but die as the fool dieth. 

2. If you would die the death of the righteous, you must be born 
again. 

3. Thus will you live the life of the righteous. 

THE NEW BIRTH. 
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3 : 7. 
Introduction from the context. 

1. The necessity of the New Birth. 

a. From positive Bible testimony. 

(a) There is a repetition in the context three times. 
(/i) " Which were born not of the will of man. . . " 
(y) " Born from above. ..." 

b. Man cannot be saved without it, while the government of God is 
maintained. Saul of Tarsus could not have been saved while per- 
secuting the Church. 

c. Without this change man cannot be pardoned. 

d. Cannot see the Kingdom of God. 

e. Cannot understand the language of Canaan. 

f. Absolutely necessary for the enjoyment or Heaven. 

2. How is regeneration produced ? 
a. Not by a change of purpose. 

/>. Not by baptism. 



SERMONS BY REV. JACOB KNAP P. 195 

c. But by the Holy Ghost. 

d. Hence the work of sovereign grace. 

Remarks. 

1. The doctrine of the text is at the very foundation of the Gospel. 

2. Seek this change without delay. Possibly God's mercy may be- 
stow upon you this great blessing. 

AGAINST INFIDELITY. 
For the invisible ... Rom. 1 : 20. 
I. The existence of a God proved. 

a. From testimony. Certain kinds of testimony are of little value 
in this case. 

(a) The testimony of a witness who has an interest in the matter 
pending is not considered good evidence. How much more difficult 
it is to lead a man to believe that slavery is a sin, that has $10,000 
invested in slaves, than the man that has none. Hence the infidel is 
not a good witness. 

(P) But we ought to admit good testimony. We daily receive 
testimony, and act on it. You date a letter 1838. This implies that 
Christ died so many years ago. But how do you know that ? From 
testimony you celebrate the Fourth of July. Why? Because on that 
day, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. How do you 
know that ? Were you there ? 

b. This world either existed from all eternity, or else there was a 
point in that eternity when it was created. 

c. Is it reasonable to suppose that this world came by chance? What 
would you say of the man who should say of this Church edifice, It did 
not owe its existence to an intelligent mind? You would say, He is either 
a fool, or he is insane. And you, infidel, who deny the existence of 
God Almighty, you are a fool ; for God says by David, " The fool hath 
said," etc. 

d. We may argue the existence of God from the order of the plane- 
tary system. The sun is placed at the right distance from the earth, 
and other planets by which it is surrounded. If its relations were 
altered, it would produce infinite mischief. It would either burn us 
up or freeze us to death. Did blind chance arrange all this ? 

<?. From the atmosphere which surrounds the earth. 

f. From the marks of design in different species of animals — man, 
the bird, the bee, the ant. ' 

g. From the Providence of God. But some man will say, These 
results are produced by the laws of Nature. Where did the laws of 
Nature come from ? 



196 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

h. Hear the confessions of infidels— Voltaire, Hobbs, Bolingbroke, 
Paine. 

i. The testimony of Christians everywhere. 

Remarks. 
J. According to the Word of God, every infidel is a fool. 

2. Those who deny the divinity of Christ are the same. 

3. Universalism is next door to infidelity. The devil was the first 
Universalist preacher. 

4. The Lord Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. 

THE JUSTICE OF GOD IN THE DAMNATION OF THE SINNER. 
Rom. 3 : 8. 
Proof : 1. You have broken the law of God, and therefore you must 
suffer its penalty. 

The character of the law of God : Contrast God's government with 
human governments. The more virtuous a community is, the more 
strict it will be in the maintenance of law and order. Justice demands 
the execution of the penalties of law. So the sinner is under the 
curse of God's law. The penalty is damnation. 

2. God has made an atonement through the deaih of Christ, whereby 
salvation is offered to the sinner. 

3. The sinner is guilty of rejecting this Gospel. Here is a man 
that to-night breaks open a store and steals $10,000. The officers 
arrest him ; he is tried, and convicted, and sent to the State Prison for 
seven years. Now, suppose the very man from whom he stole goes 
to work and draws up a petition to the Governor for his pardon, signs 
it, and goes round among his friends and obtains their names. He 
then goes to the prisoner and asks him to sign the petition. But 
he refuses his signature ; but the merchant perseveres ; he goes to the 
Governor to obtain a pardon ; the Governor signs it, and the mer- 
chant returns to the prison with the pardon in his hand, exclaiming, 
" I have been successful, here is the pardon, signed by the Gov- 
ernor !" He hands it to the prisoner. He coolly takes it in his 
hands and tears it in pieces, saying, " I wish you would mind your own 
business ; I can take care of myself" and stamps under his feet the 
pieces of the torn pardon. Now, what would you say of that man ? 

4. Your damnation will be great because you have been guilty of 
rejecting God's provision for making you holy and happy forever. 

Suppose a man a hundred miles away, surrounded by deep snow, 
and dying of starvation. The Governor hears of it, and despatches his 
son with provisions, and men to dig their way through the snow. 
After much exertion and fatigue, he reaches the cabin. What do they 



SERMONS BY REV. JACOB KNAP P. 197 

find? The starving man has seen him coming, and barred and bolted 
the door and fastened the windows. The son tries every means to 
gain admission, but in vain. The starving man says, " I know who 
you are ; you are the Governor's son. I will not be indebted to you. 
I do not want your provision." 

5. You have treated God's method of salvation with perfect con- 
tempt. Jesus says that there is only one way of salvation. Yet 
here is a man who tries to save himself by his own morality. See 
him building a ladder. He gives twenty-five cents to some poor 
person, or does some other act of kindness, which he regards as a 
round in his ladder. Thus he adds round to round, then he climbs 
up, and hopes in this way to get to heaven. At length he reaches the 
top of the ladder, and looks up ; but, to his dismay, finds an infinite 
distance between him and heaven. He sees the very lightnings of 
heaven writing his doom in the dark clouds. " He that climbeth up 
some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." 

Another expects to go to hell and suffer for his sins. Well, suppose 
this were so. What would you do when you got to heaven ? You 
could not sing the new song which the Bible puts into the mouths of 
the redeemed. You have not been redeemed by the Lamb according 
to your theory. You have been redeemed by the fires of hell — burned 
out like an old pipe. Your proper song would be, " Glory to God 
who made hell. Glory to the flames of damnation, for they have 
purified my soul and made me happy forever." 

But here is another ; he says he is going to be punished as he goes 
along through this life. His own conscience is punishment enough 
for him. Then all he has to do is to continue in sin, for the more he 
sins the less will his conscience trouble him. 

6. This career of rebellion and refusal of mercy is unprovoked. 
What has God done that you should treat Him so ? 

7. God has given you the day and the means of grace. Angels 
that rebelled were immediately cast down to hell, etc. 

8. The terms are as easy as they can be. 

IMMEDIATE CHOICE. 
Choose you this day whom ye will serve. Joshua 24 : 15. 
History of Joshua in the context. 
Two classes in the world, saints and sinners. 
Two masters, Christ and Satan. 
Look at these two masters by way of contrast. 

1. The Christian's Master is the Lord of all. 

2. The sinner's master, the devil, is a created being. 

3. Our Master is the origin of all light, natural and spiritual. 



198 REVIVAL SERVICE 

4. Your master is the origin of all evil, natural and moral. 

5. Our Master feeds His people with the bread of life, and gives 
them unlimited happiness hereafter. 

6. Your master deceives you, leads you into sin, and consequently 
into remorse an 1 misery. 

7. All the promises held out by our Master are more than realized. 

8. All the hopes raised by the devil end in disappointment. 

9. Christ clothes His people with white robes, and puts crowns on 
their heads. 

10. Your master, the devil, leads you in such a course that you are 
finally clothed with shame and everlasting contempt. 

11. Christ comforts His people in a dyinghour. 

12. The devil leads you to that hour, and then either forsakes you or 
only remains to aid in exciting your fears of the wrath to come. 

Remark. 
God commands you to choose this day. 

THE CHOICE OF MOSES. 
Heb. 11 : 25. 

Introduction: The biography of Moses. 

1. The afflictions of Christians, which are peculiar to them. Let 
us look at some of the sources of these : 

a. One source is the remaining depravity of the human heart. 

b. Another is found in backsliders and hypocrites. Moses had 
more affliction from this source than all others. 

c. The desolations of Zion. 

d. The prevalence of crime. " . 

e. The persecution of the wicked. The effect of persecution is the 
same in every age. Water thrown upon lime eighteen hundred years 
ago produced the same effect that it does to day. If you live godly in 
Christ Jesus, you must suffer persecution. 

2. Notice the pleasures of sin. 

There is pleasure in the amusements and fantastic joys of the world. 
Describe them. But God says that they are only for a season. 

a. There is pleasure in riches, fiom the love of money and ambi- 
tion to make it— but only for a season. 

b. There is pleasure in the honors of the world — but only for a 
season. 

c. There is a pleasure in propagating false doctrine — but it is only 
for a season. 

3. Contrast the pleasures of sin and the afflictions of God's people. 
a. The pleasures of sin tend to strengthen the malignant passions of 



SERMONS BY REV. JACOB KNAPP. 199 

the heart, while the afflictions of Christians tend, by God's grace, to 
wean them from the world. 

b. The one tends to the extension of an aching void, while the other 
fills it with joy unspeakable. 

c . The one quickens our pace toward heaven, while the other quickens 
our steps toward hell. 

d. The one tends to make a happy death-bed, while the other makes 
a miserable one. 

Remarks. 

1. Which will you choose — the affliction of God's people, or the 
pleasures of sin ? 

2. Both you cannot have. 

STRIVE TO ENTER IN AT THE STRAIT GATE. 

Luke 13 : 24. s 

Introduction : An account of the context, illustrated by a case sup- 
posed. Suppose this assembly were met to discuss the question of uni- 
versal salvation, and one half believed that doctrine, and the other half 

did not. Brother is appointed moderator. Now suppose that, 

after we had debated the question for an hour, all of a sudden the Lord 
Jesus Christ should appear in this pulpit, and the moderator should say, 
" The Lord Jesus is present, and we will submit this question to Him." 
All agree to this. He then asks, " Lord, are there few that be saved ?" 
Jesus replies, "Strive," etc., verse 24. But up jumps one and says, 
" Lord, that does not satisfy me." Jesus replies by repeating verse 25. 

"And yet, Lord," says another, "is it not written, As in Adam all 
die, so in Christ shall all be made alive ?" Jesus replies by repeating 
verses 27 and 28. 

But, says another, "I have taken the Universalist newspapers along 
time, and they teach a different doctrine." Jesus answers by repeating 
Matt. 7 : 14, 15, 21. 

Up jumps another, and says, " My father died in the full belief of 
universal salvation, and if he was mistaken I want proof of the fact 
in black and white." The Lord turns to him, and simply says, " These 
shall go away into everlasting pnnishment. He that believeth not 
shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." 

1. What is this gate ? Being born again. Every man is by nature 
in the broad road. 

2. Why is this gate called strait? 

a. Because every man, previous to his conversion, is in great distress 
of mind. Ask Saul of Tarsus ; ask all these Christians. 

b. Because it will admit of nothing crooked. The hearts of sinners 



200 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

are like the hearts of those trees which are crooked. Take, for example, 
the man that overreaches, or that uses or sells rum, or makes mer- 
chandise of the souls and bodies of his fellow-men ; he cannot get 
within gunshot of this gate until he stops this business, which comes 
from the devil. 

3. Why is it necessary to go through this gate ? 

a. Because there is no other way to heaven. 

b. Because the sinner, if admitted, could not enjoy heaven without 
this change. Suppose there were two hundred warm-hearted Holy 
Ghost Christians on a steamboat which they have chartered to go to a 
certain place to pray and labor for the salvation of the people. As 
the boat is casting loose from the wharf, a man rushes on board with a 
carpet-bag in his hand. He enters the cabin, and fi^ds ihe passengc rs 
either reading or engaged in conversation. He sits down by a table on 
which there is a backgammon board, and invites a gentleman to play 
with him. The man looks at him a moment with surprise, and then 
begins to preach Jesus unto him. Presently he hears a song of Zion 
from a group at the other end of the cabin, and then they begin to 
pray. Then the man by his side exclaims, "My dear sir, you are 
lost ! You are out of Christ ! Come, kneel down and pray for sal- 
vation," and so drops down by his side and begins to pray. The 
ungodly passenger now starts up, and thinks this is rather singular. 
Just then he hears the voice of song from one of the state-rooms. 
He walks toward the office, and is met by another, who says, 
" Brother, is your calling and election sure?" He breaks away, and 
rushes to the office and exclaims, " Captain, for God's sake, what 
kind of people have you on board?'' "Why," says the captain, "I 
have some two hundred live Christians ; what shall I do ?" " Put me 
ashore at the first landing." 

4. Why necessary for the sinners to strive or agonize to enter in ? 

a. Because he has to go contrary to all his sinful passions. 

b. Because his ungodly companions and associates will do all they 
can to prevent him from entering. Parents prevent children, hus- 
bands wives, etc. 

c. Because he must break away from the strong grasp of the devil. 

5. Why are many not " able" to enter? 

a. One is not able because he cannot carry his riches through the 
gate. 

b. Another cannot carry his honors through with him. 

c. Yet another cannot carry with him his unlawful business. 

6. Exhortation. " But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go bury my 
father." Luke 9 : 59. 



SERMONS BY REV. JACOB KNAP P. 201 

NO MAN CARED FOR MY SOUL. 
Ps. 142 : 4. 
Introduction : Souls may be saved by the right use of means. 

1. The worth of the soul. 

a. The soul will continue >to improve forever. 

b. The righteous will grow more happy, and the wicked more 
miserable throughout eternity. 

c. The value of the soul is proved by the price paid for it. 

2. Contrast the care man takes for his soul and the souls of his 
fellow-men and the care he takes for worldly objects. 

a. The solicitude manifested for riches. 

b. Our care in educating our children. 

c. A great many little things — dress, honors, business. 

d. Anxiety for human life. Describe a child lost. 

e. Contrast our care for souls and Christ's care. Paul. Primitive 
Christians. Luther, Whitefield, Edwards. 

f. Contrast our care now with what it was once. 

3. Some few things which show that this care does not exist. 

a. If you do not statedly observe secret prayer. 

b. If your souls are not burdened with the souls of others. 

c. If you neglect family prayer. 

d. If you do not attend prayer-meetings. 

Remarks. 
The great responsibility resting on every Christian. 

AGREE WITH THINE ADVERSARY. 
Matt. 5 : 25, 26. 

An account of the context. God is the adversary of every impeni- 
tent sinner. There is a rebellion against His government, and He is 
bound to put it down. Now to the law and to the testimony : " The 
carnal mind," etc. "God is angry with the wicked every day." "As 
though God did beseech you by us, be ye reconciled," etc. Impeni- 
tent men know that they are in opposition to God's Word. 

1. Notice what you must agree to, if you would effect a settlement 
or reconciliation with God. 

a. You must agree that God is right, and you entirely wrong in 
this controversy. 

b. You must agree that if God's charges against you are true, that 
you deserve damnation. 

(a). God charges you with hating Him. 
(b). With rebellion. 



202 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

c. You must agree to surrender unconditionally. 

d. You must agree to renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

e. You must agree to be saved by sovereign grace alone. 

2. Notice when you are to agree with thine adversary — quickly, 
" while thou art in the way with him." Why ? 

a. Because you are certain of losing ydur case. 

b. Because you will have no witnesses. 

c . No advocate. 

3. Now, because it may be that to-day thou^rt in the way with him. 

saul's conversion. 

And he said, Who art thou, Lord ? Acts 9 : 5. 
Introduction : Saul's conversion narrated. The devil had to pay 
Paul's passage to Rome ; God had some work for him to do there. The 
disciples were poor, and God compelled the wicked to carry him to 
Rome. Sinners are good for nothing in all God's universe, but to 
serve God and fulfil His purposes. 

1. Some of the obstructions God puts in the way of sinners. 

a. That which arises from the voice of nature. 

b. His Holy Word. 

c. A preached Gospel. 

d. The admonition of faithful Christians. 

e. The prayers of God's people. 

f. The sickness and death of friends. 

g. Threatening danger by the bellowing thunders and the forked 
lightnings of God in a storm. 

h. The strivings of the Holy Spirit. 

2. Notice some of the ways in which sinners kick against the goads. 

a. While you attempt to conceal your feelings. 

b. While giving yourself to the amusments of the world. 

c. By clinging to some form of error. 

d. By keeping away from the people of God. 

Remarks. 

1. It costs a man more to go to hell than to go to heaven. 

2. God will be just in the eternal damnation of your soul. 

3. Those who oppose God until death claims them will find it hard 
to kick against the spikes. 

* HOW TO SEEK GOD. 
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance Ps. 10 : 4. 

The word countenance is supposed to represent the moral character 
of the sinner. % At all events, I shall take it for the present in that sense. 



SERMONS BY REV. JACOB KNAPP. 203 

Now, understand that God must be sought, or the soul damned. No 
two ways about this. " Seek ye the Lord," etc. 
How God must be sought. 

a. Diligently, as the woman in the parable swept the house for the 
lost piece of silver. Diligence in worldly business. 

b. Boldly. Blind Bartimeus. He did not study his prayers. Was 
not afraid of noise, but boldly pressed his cry. Some of you would 
like to have religion softly, others covertly ; but I tell you, Jesus Christ 
will have the open avowal, or you will be damned. No corners in 
God's kingdom to creep into. No secret hopes or concealed re- 
ligion. 

c. Timely. There is a special time. 

d. Perseveringly. Woman with the bloody issue. If your only son 
were lost in a dense forest, would you stop to hear the birds sing their 
sweet songs ? The sinner is cross-grained ; the grains run one way 
inside, and the other way outside. 

If you could buy religion, you would have it before morning. But 
being what you are, if you went to heaven, you would not stay there, 
unless God locked you in ; you would be out of your element. 

You say that you do not like to seek religion in a time of excite- 
ment. Ah ! yes, you have had a calm time the most of your days, 
but you did not go to Christ then. The truth is, you do not want it at 
all — this is the difficulty. The devil lost three thousand souls during 
the first protracted meeting after the Ascension. 

e. You must seek God penitently. This point illustrated by ex- 
amples in the New Testament. Exhortation to seek God now. 

WHY THE WICKED LIVE. 
Their foot shall side in due time. Deut. 32 : 35. 

The Psalmist saw the wicked standing on slippery places. The 
position of mankind. All standing on a plain — all moving on to- 
gether. At the head of this plain all is beautiful and delightful. 
Fields, flowers, etc. But at the foot rolls a lake of fire. And those 
who do not seek the bower above will slide in due time. The Lord 
Jesus has entered this plain, and will save, etc. 

What is meant by ' ' due time." There is a seeming delay. Why ? 

1. That the wheat may not be rooted up with the tares. 

2. To give tune and space for repentance. Barren fig-tree. 

3. To test character. 

4. To show the long-suffering of God in Christ. Not slack con- 
cerning his promises. Days of Noah. 



204 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

5. For the benefit of the righteous. Uses the wicked as a furnace. 
Illustration : a man ascending Mt. Blanc* 

SINNERS HARDENING THEMSELVES AGAINST GOD. 
Job 9: 4. 

It is strange that man should contend with God ; strange that he 
should stir up Leviathan. 

1. Notice some of the ways in which men harden themselves against 
God. 

a. It is the effect of sin. The pirate once a different man. 

b. By setting up the same plea that Adam did. I did not make sin. 

c. Some contend with God when He takes away their friends, their 
health, or their money. 

d. Others, when they complain of the law of God as too strict. 

e. When we neglect the plan of salvation and depend on our moral- 
ity. This insults God. 

/. Others say, We are going to heaven : perhaps first to hell, then to 
heaven. The Deluge and its lessons. 

g. Again, many find fault with plain, pointed preaching. But they 
do not like the truth ; they harden themselves against God. 

h. Some do this by violating resolutions and promises. 

i. Others by neglecting the means of grace. 

2. Now, who that has done this has prospered ? 

a. Did the rebel angels? 

b. Did Adam prosper? 

c. Did Cain ? 

d. Antediluvians? 

e. City of Sodom ? 
/. Pharaoh? 

g. Saul of Tarsus? 
h. The Jews ? 
i. Ananias and his wife ? 
j. Who has prospered? 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The calls of the Gospel (the Hen Sermon). Matt. 23 : 37. 
The New Birth (two texts). Ezek. 18 : 31 ; Ps. 51 : 10. 
The Ox Sermon. Isa. 1: 3. 
Enthusiasm. \ Acts 26 : 24. 

* This serrmn has been published in full with his Autobiography. 

t This and the three preceding sermons are published in his Autobiography. 



SERMONS BY HALSEY W. KNAPP, D.D. 205 

SERMONS BY HALSEY W. KNAPP, D.D. 

OUTLINES. 

HALTING BETWEEN TWO OPINION'S. 
1 Kings 18 : 21. 
Elijan addressed double-minded men — some for God, some for Baal ; 
some for both. 

1. Describe this class. 

a. They live between two thoughts — God and the world ; righteous- 
ness and sin ; salvation and damnation. 

b. They live two lives — outwardly Christian, practically worldlings ; 
sometimes very warm, then very cold ; religious at one moment, 
devilish the next. 

c. They live between two fears — God's penalty and the world's 
frown ; the soul's loss, the loss of Heaven. 

2. The folly of halting between two opinions. 

a. You are not deceiving God. 

b. You are not deceiving the devil. 

c. You are simply deceiving yourself. 

3. How long will you continue the controversy? 

a. What does reason say ? "If God be God, serve him, ' ' etc. 

b. What does your soul say ? " Save me ; save me." 

c. What does God say? "Today, if ye will hear," " Look unto 
me," etc. 

THE GOD THAT ANSWERETH BY FIRE. 
1 Kings 18 : 24. 
i. God has manifested Himself by fire before. A flaming sword in 
Eden ; a rain of fire upon Sodom ; the fire on Mt. Sinai ; fire from 
the Lord destroyed Korah Elijah knew this : hence his appeal. 

2. What Elijah did to secure the result. 

a. He firmly believed that God would vindicate Himself. 

b. He laid every obstacle to the miracle upon and around the altar ; 
water on and around the sacrifice. 

c. He called on God in believing prayer (verses 36, 37), and the fire 
came. 

3. God will answer by prayer now. 

a. He will quicken His people by the Holy Spirit ; warm them ; in- 
spire them ; enthuse them. 

b. He will send burning arrows of conviction. 

c. He will give a baptism of the Holy Spirit. 



206 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Conclusion : God requires our firm faith ; our entire consecration ; 
our active co-operation. 

THE CLOUD AS A MAN'S HAND, 
i Kings 18 : 44. 
Theme : The beginnings of a work of grace. 

1. It begins in the heart of God's people. Felt before seen in the 
soul, in the closet, in prayer ; a deep conviction. 

2. It manifests itself in a solemn interest among the unsaved. Men 
begin to think — to hear the Word — to lose their taste for the world — 
to think on God and salvation. 

3. Conversions follow, but with feeble experiences. Converts are 
feeble when the Church is weak. 

4. But as we take hold on God, the cloud enlarges and gives rain. 

WHAT DOEST THOU HERE, ELIJAH ? 
1 Kings iq : 19. 

1. Elijah was where the Lord did not want him. 

2. Elijah was where the Lord could not bless him. 

3. Elijah compelled God's rebuke. 

THE PRICE IN THE HAND OF A FOOL TO GET WISDOM. 

Prov. 17 : 16. 

We have here two facts stated, and an interrogation. 

1. First Fact : that wisdom is within the reach of man, 

a. We have God's revelation concerning true wisdom. 

b. We have intellectual ability to consider this question. 

c. We have divine grace to help us. 

d. We have time and opportunity to secure it. 

2. Second Fact ; that men have no heart to secure this wisdom. 

a. Their heart-treasure is elsewhere. 

b. The subject is entirely distasteful. 

c. The need seems not a present one, bat entirely a future one. 

3. The Interrogation : Why has God put this price into the hand of 
those who will not use it ? 

a. Because he loves man. 

b. Because he would save man. 

c. That every mouth may be silent in final condemnation. 

STRIVING WITH OUR MAKER. 
Isa. 45 : 9. 

Theme : The sin and folly of contending with God about His plan 
for our salvation. 

1. When do men contend with God ? 



SERMONS BY HALSEY W. KNAPP, D.D. 207 

a. When He interferes with their social and secular affairs. 

b. When the Gospel comes home to them. 

c. When convicted of their sins. 

d. When they see that faith in Christ is their only hope. 
2. The folly and sin of their course. 

a. The folly : 

(a) You cannot prevail over God's will. 
(/3) You only add to your sorrow. 

b. The sin : 

(a) You are trampling on the blood of redemption. 
(/?) You are sealing your own doom. 

THE MEANS TO SECURE SALVATION. 
Isa. 55 : 0. 
What are these means ? 

1. God must be heard. 

a. To enlighten — to convince — to draw. 

b. He must be heard attentively and anxiously. 

2. God must be approached. 

a. In order to do this you must abandon sin. 

b. You must come as you are. 

c. You must come by the Lord Jesus. 

d. You must come in faith. 

3. God will bless. 

a. Your soul shall live. 

b. Guilt and condemnation shall be taken away. 

c. Pardon will be vouchsafed. 

d. God declares this ; will you prove it ? 

SEEKING THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND. 

Isa. 55 : 6. 
i. We are to seek God. 
2. The time to seek Him is while He may be found. 

THE WARNING OF THE TRUMPET UNHEEDED. 

Ezek. 33 : 5. 

1. A time of peril. 

2. A warning trumpet. 

3. The alarm despised. 

4. A doom pronounced. 

GOD'S METHOD OF REVEALING HIS BLESSINGS TO HIS PEOPLE. 
Hosea 10 : 12. 
1. What will be the effect of seeking the Lord ? 
a. We shall be restored to His favor and fellowship. 



208 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

b. We shall have full possession of divine grace. 

c. We shall have an enduring and conquering faith. 
2. We are to seek Him until He come. 

a. If it take your life-time, give it. 

b. You will know that He has come by the blessing conferred. 
Then only can you be truly of service to Him. 

GOD DELIGHTS IN MERCY. 
Micah 7 : 18. 

i. Why God's anger is turned away from men. 

a. Not because it exhausts itself. 

b. Not because men cannot help sinning. 

c. Not for any penalty that men may endure. 

d. But because of the propitiation that His mercy has provided. 
2. Wherein God's mercy is still manifest to us. 

a. In preserving our lives in spite of our rebellion. 

b. In repeated calls to salvation. 

c. In the opportunities of this hour. 

THE LABORERS ARE FEW. 
Matt. 9 : 37. 
i. All Christians are not laborers. Some are idle or careless or un- 
willing. 

2. All willing to work are not qualified. 

3. The Lord requires of laborers those things which but few possess. 

a. Heartfelt piety before God. 

b. Willingness to sacrifice self. 

c. Compassion for souls. 

d. Power with God in prayer. 

e. Dependence on the Holy Spirit. 
/. Strong faith. 

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. 

i. This man was seeking pearls. 

a. How to free himself from sin. 

b. How to come before God. 

c. How to obtain salvation. 

2. The man discovered a pearl of great price. 

a. He knew where it was. 

b. He knew what it was. 

c. He knew what it could do. 

3. To possess this great pearl required a great sacrifice. 
a. To be of benefit to him, he must possess it. 



SERMONS BY HALSEY W. KNAPP, D.D. 209 

b. To possess it, he must part with all he had. 

c. He did this, and the pearl was his. 

CHRISTIAN FAITH CAN BE SEEN. 
Mark 2:5. 

What is faith ? What its manifestation ? 

1. Christian faith can be seen. 

a. Seen laying hold of the helpless. 

b. Seen carrying them to Jesus. 

c. Leaving them with Jesus. 

2. Christian faith will be rewarded. 

a. As it honors Christ, He will honor us. 

b. The object sought will be gained. 

c. Your faith will be strengthened by exercise. 

d. One victory of faith will assure it of many. 

Conclusion. 

1. What has your faith done for you ? 

2. What has it done for Jesus and men in this field. 

I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER. 
Luke 15 : 18. 

1. There is an awakened consciousness of moral destitution. 

2. An energetic determination to escape from destruction. 

3. The right and only course to secure freedom and salvation. 

DIVINE TESTIMONY AND HUMAN INSTRUMENTALITY IN CONVERSION. 
John 4 : 42. 
What Jesus saw, knew, and said. John 5 : 6. 
Without me ye can do nothing. John 15 : 5. 
Pentecost the beginning of revival power. Acts 2 : 37. 
Fellowship with devils. 1 Cor. 10 : 20. 
Almost persuaded. Acts 26 : 28. 
Who gave Himself for our sins. Gal. I : 4. 
The enemies of the cross of Christ. Philip. 3 : 18. 
For all men have not faith. 2 Thess. 3 : 2. 
Hearing God's voice to-day. Heb. 3 : 7-8. 
Falling into the hands of the living God. Heb. 10 : 31. 
Going forth to Christ without the camp. Heb. 13 : 13. 
How is it that ye have no faith ? Mark 4 : 40. 
Confessing Christ at home. Mark 5 : 19. 



210 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

SERMONS BY REV. E. N. KIRK. 

OUTLINE. 
man's natural enmity to god. 

Rom. 8 : 7. 

The introduction defines the " enmity" negatively and positively. 
Proof of the declaration of the text. 

1. Man hates the character of God as a Lawgiver. 

2. Man hates the sovereignty of God. 

3. The carnal mind hates the mercy of God. 

Remarks. 

1. The supreme love of the creature is a dreadful evil. 

a. It makes it impossible to enter heaven. 

b. It arrays us against the will of God, and exposes us to His con- 
demnation. 

2. Regeneration is necessary to salvation. 

3. The carnal mind must be put away. But where must we begin ? 
At the cross of Christ ; renounce the world, and cast thyself on Christ. 

4. The conquest of the carnal mind is not the work of a moment ; 
it is the labor of life. But there must be a moment in which it 
begins ; that moment should be now. There is a spot of earth where 
you should give yourself for healing into the hands of the great Phy- 
sician ; that spot you occupy now. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Sermon to Children. Ps. 24 : 11. 
Agreement with God. Amos 3 : 3. 

ADDRESSES TO PROMOTE THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION. 

i. The Philosophy of Revivals. 

2. The Lord's controversy with His people. 

3. The Desirableness of Prayer for the Outpouring of the Spirit. 

4. Address on the Origin of Foreign Missions. 



A SERMON BY F. IV. KRUMMACHER, D.D. 211 



A SERMON BY F. W. KRUMMACHER, D.D. 

OUTLINE. 

THE REVIVAL BEGUN. 
Canticles 2 : 12. 

1. Take a nearer viezu of the Turtle Doz^e. 

As the Son of God chooses the lamb for his symbol, so the Holy- 
Spirit selects the dove for His. 

a. In order to discover the full meaning of the symbol, take Sacred 
History as your guide. Three times does it present this image. 

(a) The Spirit of God moved (literally rendered, brooded) upon the 
face of the void and formless deep. The Spirit is here compared to a 
bird (beyond a doubt the dove) with her wings expanded as if brood- 
ing on her eggs. 

(/?) Again she moves over the waters — those of the deluge. 

(>) Once more she moves over the waters— those of Jordan. 

b. Why was the dove chosen as the symbol of the Holy Ghost? 

(a) The dove is a tender and faithful bird, hence an emblem of 
constant love. 

(/?) Of all birds, the dove is the most clean and delicate. In filthy 
places she will not abide at rest. 

(7) The dove is gentle. 

(6) As the Spirit like a dove brooded upon the face of the waters 
at the Creation, so the Holy Spirit is the life-giving, formative, and 
beautifying power in the new creation. 

(e) As the dove of Noah was the wished-for messenger of peace and 
joy, so the Holy Spirit assures us of mercy, reconciliation, and causes 
rejoicing and rest. 

(C) As the olive branch is a symbol of honor, and Noah a type of 
Christ, so the Holy Spirit crowns Jesus Lord of All, and glorifies 
Him. 

2. Listen to its voice in the land. 

a. Her notes are wonderful and enchanting. 

b. This Turtle Dove has always been heard, in gentle strains at 
least, in some part of the world. Scripture history cited in proof. 

c. She is also heard in the land of our hearts. 

d. Her melodious voice reverberates from our hearts in confessions, 
exhortations, in prayer and praises. True, the raven voice of the old 
man sometimes tries to imitate the voice of the dove. Rut there is a 



212 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

difference between " Shibboleth" and " Sibboleth" to the ear of those 
who hold the ford of Jordan. The apparent trifle marks the friendly 
Gileadite from the rebellious Ephraimite. 

e. The Dove speaks through the children of God, but not always in 
the same notes. Sometimes its strains are sorrowful or complaining, 
sometimes joyful or persuasive. 

/. The Turtle Dove is heard in our land. God be praised, a period 
has already dawned in which these words have a delightful applica- 
tion to the land in which we dwell. The drooping and expiring 
Church of Christ begins to revive and put forth blossoms. 



SERMONS BY REV. S. REYNOLDS HOLE, 

Canon of Lincoln. * 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The Warnings of God. (Knowing, therefore, the terrors of the 
Lord ) 2 Cor. 5 : n. 

The Lord's Beacons of War and Victory. Isa. 30 : 17. 

Sleeping and Waking. Eph. 5 : 14. 

The History of the Prodigal. Luke 15 : 11-24. 

How the slave of sin may become free. (That thou shouldest 
receive him forever.) Philemon 15. 

The Covetousness of Balaam. Num. 31 : 8. 

The ten following sermons were preached at the Manchester, Read- 
ing, and Grimsby Missions : 

The Missioner's Motive. (His spirit was stirred. . . .) Acts 17 : 16. 

The Missioner's Message. (Therefore disputed he. ) Acts 

17 : 17. 

The Missioner's Difficulties : Unbelief. Acts 17 : 32. 

The Missioner's Difficulties : Excuses. Acts 17 : 32. 

The Missioner's Difficulties : Fatal Delay. Acts 17 : 33. 

The Missioner's Hopes : of a true Repentance. Acts 17 : 34. 

The Missioner's Hopes : of a dutiful Repentance. Micah 6 : 8. 

* These subjects are given from a volume of his, entitled *• Hints to Preachers, il- 
lustrated by Sermons and Addresses, " Parker & Co., Oxford, 1881. The volume is 
dedicated to Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone. Mr. H., with Mr. Knox Little and 
others, is doing the work of lv Missioned" in the Anglican parishes. The book gives 
one a good idea of this new and significant movement. 



SERMONS BY HEM AN HUMPHREY, D.D. 213 

The Missioner's Hopes : cf a Charitable Repentance. (We are 
verily guilty concerning our brother. . . .) Gen. 42 : 21. 

The Missioner's Hopes : of a Generous, Prayerful, Self-denying 
Repentance (on the duties of Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting). Matt. 
6 :' 2, 6, 17. 

The Missioner's Hopes : of increasing the number of True Wor- 
shippers. (And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here 
with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder. . . .) Gen. 22 : 5. 



SERMONS BY HEMAN HUMPHREY, D.D. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Prepare the Way of the Lord. Isa. 40 : 3. 

O Lord, revive thy Work. Heb. 3 : 2. 

O Lord, increase our faith. Luke 17 : 5. 

Take up the stumbling-blocks out of the way. Isa. 57 : 14. 

Waiting for the Saviour's Return. Luke 8 : 40. 

Come down ere my child die. John 4 : 49. 

And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. 
Matt. 13 : 58. 

Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? Acts 16 : 30. 

Come unto me, and I will give you rest. Matr. 11 : 28. 

The carnal mind is enmity against God. Rom. 8 : 7. 

Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Luke 13 : 24. 

She was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. Mark 5 : 26. 

Go thy way for this time : when I have a convenient season.... 
Acts 24 : 25. 

Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts 26 : 28. 

Commune with your own heart, and be still. Ps. 4 : 4. 

Quench not the Spirit. I Thes. 5 : 19. 

The Wiles of the Devil (to young converts). Eph. 6 : 11. 

He that endureth to the end shall be saved (to young converts). 
Matt. 10 : 22. 



2 14 REVIVAL SERVICE. 



SERMONS BY EDWARD D. GRIFFIN, D.D. 

OUTLINES. 

JESUS OF NAZARETH PASSING BY. 

Matt. 20 : 29-34. 

The historical incidents of the miracle. 

The bodily cures wrought by Christ were designed to announce him 
to the world as the Great Physician of the soul, and to teach sinners 
how to apply to Him for healing. I am therefoie authorized to em- 
ploy this piece of history for such a purpose. 

1. It was necessary for the blind man to be by the wayside while 
Jesus was passing by. So anxious sinners should attend to the means 
of grace. 

2. It was not enough for these men to sit idly by the wayside with- 
out faith and without application to Him. 

3. These unhappy men, knowing themselves to be wholly unworthy 
of the Saviour's notice, made no demands, but only sued for mercy. 

4. In the earnestness of these men we see an opportunity for us. 

5. A r or could ihey be silenced by the frowns of the multitude. 

6. Ite difference between the conduct of our Saviour and that of the 
multitude. 

7. The blind men asked Jesus, not for riches or honors, but for 
sight. 

8. They were net denied. 

9. Some one that is spiritually blind will say, O that I had lived in 
that day, or, O that it were as easy to find relief now. Jesus of Naza- 
reth is present now, and is now ready to afford relief. 

10. It was the last time that Jesus ever passed that way before He 
left the world. 

THE BRAZEN SERPENT. 
John 3 : 14, 15. 

Introduction : An account of the Brazen Serpent. 

Let us trace the resemblance between this type and the antitype. 

1. It was provided for people in a condition somewhat resembling 
that of the race to whom the Saviour was sent. 

2. The Brazen Serpent had the form of the fiery serpents, but not 
their poison. So Chiist came in the likeness of sinful flesh, etc. 

3. The bite of the serpents must be cured by the lifting up, not of 
an eagle, but of a serpent. So Christ must take upon Himself, not 



SERMONS BY EDWARD D. GRIFFIN, D.D. 215 

" the nature of angels," but the seed of Abraham. It must be the Son 
of man that is lifted up to atone for the sins of man. 

4. The serpent being erected in full view of the camp, the people, 
when bitten, had only to fix their eyes upon it in order to live. So 
sinners are to fix a believing eye on the crucified Saviour. 

5. On what easy terms might the poor distressed Hebrews live. They 
had not to search the world for physicians. 

6. And in this way must man be pardoned, if pardoned at all. 

THE FRUITLESS FIG TREE. 
Luke 13 : 6-8. 
(Parable explained by way of introduction.) 

i. Men are placed in this world for no other end than to bring forth 
fiuit to God. 

2. God has an absolute right to all the fruit we can bear, just as the 
owner of a vineyard has a right to all the grapes it brings forth. 

3. God has appointed one to dress His vineyard. 

4. God attentively watches to see whether His vineyard be fruitful 
or not. 

5. There are some trees in God's vineyard on which, when He 
comes, year after year, seeking fruit, He finds none. 

6. Such trees the Lord, weary of waiting, would cast down, did 
not the Mediator step in and plead, " Spare it a little longer." 

7. The trial is short, and precisely limited. The request was, " Let 
it alone this year." 

Subject Applied. 

a. To any present who have resisted the calls of God all their days, 
and are now exercised with affliction. 

b. Are there any present under the special calls of the Spirit ? 

c. Are there any present who in former revivals were unmoved or 
mockers, but are now awakened ? 

d. Are there here any who were formerly awakened, and then re- 
turned to insensibility, but are now awakened again. 

e. Those who were formerly awakened but cannot now be moved 
by all that is passing before ther eyes. 

f. Those who were unmoved in former revivals, and remain un- 
moved in this. 

g. Such as have an uncertain hope without acknowledging Christ 
before the world. 

h. Are there present any unfruitful professors ? 

i. Finally, all who are out of Christ, and have not passed their last 
trial. 



216 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

EXCUSES. 
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. Luke 14 : 18. 

Parable described. It presents these three ideas : 

1. That all rejecters of the Gospel are prone to make excuses. 

2. That in the view of God these excuses are frivolous. 

3. That they arise from aversion to the Gospel and an unwilling- 
ness to bear the blame of rejecting it. 

From what has been said — 

a. We see the wickedness, the folly, and the bad reflex influence of 
all these excuses. 

b. We see that the unconverted are in a most guilty, forlorn, and 
dangerous state. 

c. Let impenitent hearers never make another excuse. 

d. Here then you stand, without one excuse for rejecting the Gospel 
another moment. 

RETURNING FROM THE CRUCIFIXION. 
Luke 23 47, 48. 
Five kinds of people at the cross described. 

Lessons : 1. A sudden discovery of the claims of Christ connected 
with a sense of having rejected and crucified Him, will cause men to 
tremble and smite their breasts. 

2. There are some whom no wonders can subdue or convince. 

Abraham's steward. 

Gen. 24 : 49. 

Historical introduction. Let us apply this piece of history to illus- 
trate Gospel truth. 

The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah may be considered as an 
emblem of the union of Christ and believers. The embassy of Abra- 
ham's steward may also illustrate the work of Gospel ministers. 
These ought to imitate the frank and honest zeal of Eleazer, saying to 
sinners, " And now. if ye will deal kindly," etc. 

Jesus asks sincere love Had Rebekah feigned consent, but married 
another, she would not have dealt " kindly and truly." 

But you who are not wedded to Christ will have many objections 
to all this. And that these objections may appear in all their strange- 
ness, let us put them into the mouth of Rebekah on the occasion be- 
fore us. 

a. Suppose her to say, " You describe indeed the attractions of the 
country and the virtues of your master ; but I have never seen 
either' ' 



SERMONS BY EDWARD D. GRIFFIN, D.D. 217 

b. Suppose her further to object : " How shall I forsake the favorite 
walks of my youth, my relatives, my dearest friends ?" 

c. "Ay,' she replies ; " you say I shall never wish to return, and 
this is the very reason why I am unwilling to go" 

d. Suppose her still to object. "The way is long and obstructed 
by rivers and sandy deserts, and exposed to robbers and savage 
beasts" 

e. Do I hear her say, " I fear I shall grow weary of the way, and 
have longings after home, and to return, and be a derision to my ac- 
quaintance" 

/. But I hear her say, " I am unworthy of so great and good a 
man, and it is impossible that he is sincere." 

g. None of these objections did Rebekah make. The duty and the 
interest of Rebekah are here amplified. " But greater reasons urge you 
to an alliance with the spiritual Isaac." 

(a) I come to espouse you to Christ. It is your duty, etc. 

(/?) Great are the pains he has taken to obtain you. 

(7) I come in the name of a Master who will not brook delay. 

WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH ? 
2 Kings 2 : 14. 

This inquiry Elisha made when he smote the waters of Jordan with 
Elijah's mantle and opened a passage for himself to return on dry 
ground. We may suppose that he made the same inquiry when he 
wrought all his other miracles. 

The particular point in which I wish to view the prophet as inquir- 
ing for the Lord God of Elijah is in the act of raising the son of the 
Shunammite. 

a. Our dear children are dead. Many parents among us have not 
a living child in the world : all are spiritually dead. 

b. To whom can we apply ? Only to the Lord God of Elijah. 

c. When Elisha smote the waters of Jordan and cried, "Where," 
etc. he looked back on a season of divine wonders. So may we while 
making the same appeal. Accounts of former and recent revivals. 

d. Where is the Lord God of all revivals ? 

THE DOVE. 
Gen. 8:8,9. 

The pigeon or dove is held up in Scripture as an emblem of the 

Church The dove may also be considered as the emblem of the 

Christian. I employ the text, not in its original historic sense, nor in 
a typical import, but as an illustration of the wanderings of Chris- 



2l8 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

tians, their uneasiness in their absence from the Church, and their glad 
return. 

i. The dove wandered from the ark ; and Christians, alas, are too 
prone to wander from Christ. 

2. It was not without an object that the dove left the ark ; she went 
to seek another rest. 

3. " But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot." 

4. The dove at length returned, forced back by the prevalence of 
the waters. 

5. When the dove returned and mourned at the window, did the 
patriarch shut the heart of his compassion against her? 

THE HEART OF GOD AFFECTED BY PRAYER. 
Gen. 32 : 28. 
Jacob's importunity and its success. 

a. The Scriptures of the Old Testament speak of God as really 
affected by prayer. 

b. Christ teaches us that our Heavenly Father is as truly affected by 
our prayers as parents are by the petitions of their children. 

c. " But is not God unchangeable ?" 

d. A motive to tinion in prayer. If Jacob alone was invincible, etc. 

TOKENS OF TERDITION. 
Now learn ye the parable of the fig tree. . . . Matt. 24 : 32, 33. 
i. The first token of perdition which I shall mention is vicious 
habits. 

2. Infidelity or universalism. 

3. A false hope and a false profession. 

4. The approach of age without religion. 

5. A state of carnal security. 

6. A satisfaction with worldly good. 

7. A presumptuous confidence in God's mercy. 

8. Profanation of the Sabbath and a neglect of the means of grace. 

9. A contention against the truth and a demand for smooth proph- 
esyings. 

10. The rejection of many calls. 

In many instances these tokens cluster. Half a dozen may be 
found on the same man ; all may be found on some. 

THE HEATH IN THE DESERT, OR STUNTED AND DWARFISH SOULS. 
Jer. 18 : 5, 6. 
I. Ascertain those against whom this curse is denounced. 
a. The worldly who are prayerless and practically atheistic. 



SERMONS BY REV. A. GRATTAN GUINNESS. 219 

b. Those who put their sole trust in means and instruments. 

c. Such as cherish false hopes. 

2. Show how these resemble the heath in the desert. 

a. In their barrenness. 

b. In their unblest and forsaken solitariness. 

c. In their ignorance and ingratitude concerning " good." 

d. In the growth of more of these fruitless and misshapen shrubs 
when showers come. 

e. In their danger of being abandoned to hopeless desolation. 
Application addressed to the three classes described in the first part 

of the sermon. 

THE BAND THAT TOOK CHRIST. 
John 18 : 6. 

The betrayal of our Saviour described. 

This piece of history suggests several reflections. 

1. The power of Christ and the discoveries of Him to bring down 
to the ground the stoutest sinner. 

2. There are hearts so obstinate that nothing can reclaim them. 

3. The strongest impressions may soon pass off and leave nothing 
but increased stupidity and hardness of heart. 

4. If there was so much power and majesty in the voice of Christ, 
in one of His lowest acts of humiliation, what majesty and power will 
attend His voice when he shall come in the glory of His Father with 
the holy angels ? 



SERMONS BY REV. A. GRATTAN 
GUINNESS. 

OUTLINES. 

REFUGES OF LIES. 
Isa. 28 : 17. 

An anecdote by way of introduction. A man takes refuge from a 
storm of wind and hail in a hut upon a barren moor. The wind un- 
roofs it, the man flees from the place affrighted, but is overtaken by 
lightning and falls dead. 

Many thousands are taking refuge from the threatenings of God's 
wrath beneath the lies of the Evil One. 

1. Some say, " I believe in election." 

2. Others say " I trust in the mercy of God." 

3. Another says, " I do the best I can." 



220 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

4. Some flatter themselves that they do believe in Christ, when they 
do not. They do not believe that Jesus is their own Saviour. 

5. "I must wait God's time." 

6. " There is time enough yet." 

THE PRODIGAL SON. 
Luke 15 : 20. 
The parable illustrated by a free rehearsal. Next, its application to 
wandering and returning sinners. 

1. See by this parable how Christ sets forth the sinner as forsaking 
God. 

2. Behold the sinner wasting his substance in riotous living, spend- 
ing all, and beginning to be in want. 

3. See how Christ sets forth the sinner as reduced to servitude and 
degradation. 

4. The sinner coming to himself. 

5. The sinner's return to God, and the blessed reception God gives 
him. 

CHRIST PRE-EMINENT. 
Col. 1: 18. 

i. Christ is the first. 

2. He is the mightiest. 

3. The richest. 

4. The highest. 

5. The loveliest. 

6. And the last. 

WELCOME TO JESUS. 
John 6 : 37. 
I wish to speak to you about two things. 

1. About coming to Christ — " Him that cometh to me." 

2. About the certainty of being received — " I will in no wise cast 
out." 

THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 
John 4 : 26. 
i. How Christ revealed the sinner to herself. 
2. How Christ revealed Himself to the sinner. 

SIN FORGIVEN' AND FORGOTTEN. 
Isa. 43 : 25. 
In setting precious stones the jeweller often spreads beneath them 
a dark substance in order to throw out and heighten their brilliancy. 
So the Lord, in setting this promise, has spread beneath it the black- 
ness of our sins. Read from the 22d verse of this chapter : " But thou 



SERMONS BY REV. A. GRATTAN GUINNESS. 221 

hast not called upon me, O Jacob," etc. In meditating on this sub- 
ject we shall divide the subject into four parts. 

1. Free grace blots out our transgressions from God's book. 

2. Free grace blots out our transgressions with God's hand. 

3. Free grace blots out our transgressions for God's sake. 

4. Free grace blots out our transgressions, not only from God's 
book, with God's hand, and for God's sake, but from God's memory. 

THE GREEN TREE AND THE DRY. 

Luke 23 : 31. 
Introduction expository. 

1. The glory and destruction of the green tree. 

Look first at the natural tree and then at the Saviour, who is repre- 
sented by it. 

a. Out of a barren wilderness sprang up a tree, young, tall, and fair. 
Christ is that tree of God. He grew out of barren ground, etc. 

b. Look at this green tree. How beautiful it is ; it has no twisted 
branches ; there are no worm-eaten or withered leaves, no weather- 
beaten blossoms, no bitter or rotten fruit. Behold here a faint picture 
of Jesus. His birth was as pure as the cieation of an angel, His 
childhood was as spotless as sunshine, etc. 

c. Mark the goodness of the green tree. It casts a cool shadow 
at noontide, etc. So Christ was a refuge, a medicine. 

d. A. description of the destruction of the green tree as a similitude 
of the death of Christ. 

2 The shame and ruin of the dry tree. 

a. Look at that dry tree. It is spring, but not a leaf appears upon 
it. Sinner ! thou art that dry tree. 

b. When the summer comes, the dry tree, though surrounded with 
living trees, remains still dry and dead. 

c. When the autumn comes, and other trees round about bear 
golden fruit, it is fruitless. 

d. Each rising sun shines upon it, but finds it more decayed than it 
was the day before. Sinner ! thou art that dry tree. 

e. Look again. The dry tree is a nest of reptiles ; lift up the bark 
and behold the things that crawl beneath. Sinner! thou art that dry 
tree. 

f. Look again. Mark the space the dry tree occupies. A living 
tree might grow upon the very spot where it stands. Sinner! thou 
art that dry tree. 

g. Look again on the dry tree. The showers that soften the folded 
buds and spread open the tender leaves of the living tree in spring- 



222 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

time, rain upon the dry tree with equal abundance, but, alas ! it 
only decays the faster. Sinner ! thou art that dry tree. 

h. Look again at the dry tree. There it lies upon the ground, decay- 
ing ; how soon it will be gone ! A few more years or months or 
weeks, and y >u may seek for it in vain. The little dust it leaves shall 
be carried away by winds or soaked down into the earth by rains. The 
fresh grass of the future spring-times shall hide from the sight the 
spot where it lay. It shall be forgotten forever. Sinner! thou art 
that dry tree. 

Before I conclude I would give a word of warning and a word of 
encouragement. 



SERMONS AND READINGS BY REV. A. P. 
GRAVES. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Run, speak to this young man. (To young men.) Zech. 2 : 4. 

What is a man profited. (Value of the soul.) Matt. 16 : 26. 

A new creature. (Evidence of conversion ) 2 Cor. 5 : 17. 

One thing is needful. (Addressed to young ladies.) Luke 10 : 42. 

Is it well with thee? (Family religion.) 2 Kings 4 : 26. 

Behold, I bring you good tidings. (Good tidings.) Luke 2 : 10. 

Now is the day of salvation. (Immediate salvation.) 2 Cor. 6 : 2. 

Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost. (The unpardonable 
sin.) Matt. 12 : 32. 

The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son. (The blood of Jesus.) 1 John 
1 : 7. 

BIBLE READINGS. 

Published in his volume " From Earth to Heaven." 

" Sheltered by the Blood." Pp. 27-47. 

" Gethsemane." Pp. 80-95. 

A Faith that God accepts. Pp. 111-123. 

Eighteenth chapter of Matthew. Pp. 148-156. 

Assurance. Pp. 176-192. 

The Holy Spirit. Pp. 291-307. 

Heaven. Pp. 324-341. 

ADDRESSES. 

Bible Work. Pp. 72-79- 

The Higher Christian Life. Pp. 193-200. 



SERMONS BY REV. JOHN FLETCHER. 223 

United Efforts in Revival. Pp. 215-225. 

Secret Societies and their Evils. Pp. 244-248. 

Social Amusements and their Temptations. Pp. 264-270. 



SERMONS BY REV. JOHN FLETCHER, 
Of Madeley. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The New Birth. John 3 : 3. 

The State of the Natural Man. 1 Cor. 2 : 14. 

Awake, thou that sleepest. Eph. 5 : 14. 

The Nature of Regeneration. 1 Cor. 5 : 17. 

The Necessity of Regeneration. John 3 : 3. 

Expostulation with Sinners. (And thou shalt speak my words unto 
them. . . .) Ezek. 2 : 7. 

Wisdom in Spiritual Things. Deut. 32 : 29. 

Why many of Christ's disciples wete offended. John 6 : 66-68. 

On what terms Christ gives life. John 5 : 40. 

Danger of the Wicked. Ezek. 33 : 7-9. 

Creation and Fall of Man. Gen. 1 : 26. 

Now is the accepted time. 2 Cor. 6 : 2. 

Killing the heir of all things. Matt. 21 : 38. 

Killing the Prince of Life. Acts 3 : 14-15. 

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Acts 1 : 5. 

The three Duties of Zion. Isa. 52 : 1. 

Repentance unto Life. Acts 11 : 18. 

The heart deceitful nnd wicked. Jer. 17 : 19. 

What Christ is made to us. 1 Cor. 1 : 30. 

The Victor sitting on Christ's throne. Rev. 3 : 21. 

Fishers of Men. Luke 5 : 20. 

Not by might nor by power. Zech 4 : 6-7. 

The Penitent Thief. Luke 23 : 42-43. 

The sinner beginning to sink crying, Lord, save. Matt. 14 : 30. 

The true prophet prophesies good. (I hate him, for he doth not 
prophesy good concerning me. . . .) 1 Kings 22 : 8. 

The Riches of the Glory of the Mystery. Col. 1 : 26-28. 

Joseph as a type of Christ. Gen. 45 : 4. 

What is it to preach Christ. 1 Cor. 1 : 23. 

Sinners wonder at and despise Christ. Acts 13 : 40-41. 



224 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The cry of Jesus to thirsty souls. John 7 : 37-38. 

The prevailing importunity of Esau. Gen. 27 : 38. 

The Song of the Angels at the time of Christ's biith. Luke 2 : 14. 

Prepare to meet thy God. Amos 6 : 12. 

Anathema, maranatha. 1 Cor. 16 : 22. 

The Serpent lifted up. John 3 : 14-15. 

Winning Christ. Phil. 3 : 8. 

Rend your hearts, and not your garments. Joel 2 : 13. 

The Gospel should be received mixed with faith. Heb. 4 : 2. 

Why will ye die, O house of Israel. Ezek. 18 : 31. 



SERMONS BY REV. T. J. FRELINGHUYSEN. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Christ's Lamentation over Jerusalem. Matt. 23 : 37. 
The righteous scarcely saved. 1 Pet. 4 : 18. 
The miserable end of the ungodly. 1 Pet. 4 : 18. 
The sins of youth lamented and deprecated. Ps. 25 : 7. 
The Lord's controversy with His people. Hosea 4 : 1-3. 
The judgments of God upon corrupt professors. Rev. 8 : 13. 
The soul seeking and finding Jesus. John 20 : 11-18. 
The soul covenanting with God. Joshua 24 : 22. 



SERMONS BY REV. CHARLES G. FINNEY. 

OUTLINES. 

SERMON I. SINNERS BOUND TO CHANGE THEIR OWN HEARTS. 
Ezekiel 18 : 31. 

1. What is not the meaning of this requirement. 

2. What is the meaning of it. 

SERMON II. HOW TO CHANGE YOUR HEART. 
Ezekiel 18 : 21. 

TRADITIONS OF THE ELDERS. 
Matt. 15 : 6. 
This sermon is intended to expose the errors of the Antinomians, 
Universalists, and others. 



SERMONS BY. REV. CHARLES G. FINNEY. 225 

SERMON I. TOTAL DEPRAVITY. 
John 5 : 42. 

Serm. 11. (Same subject continued). Rom. 8 : 7. 

Why sinners hate God. John 15 : 25. 

God cannot please sinners. Luke 7 : 31-35. 

1. Why? 

a. Sinners do not like the holiness of God. 

b. They do not like the justice of God. 

c. The mercy of God. \ 

d. The precepts of His law. 

e. The penalty of His law. 

f. His Gospel. 

(a) They do not like the Gospel rule of conduct. 

(j3) The conditions of the Gospel. 

(7) The means of grace. 

(fi) The manner the Gospel is preached. 

(e) The lives of ministers. 

(0 The conduct of Christians. 

(77) Church discipline. 

2. The sermon is concluded 'with fifteen practical remarks. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Stewardship. Luke 16 : 2. 

Christian Affinity. Amos 3 : 3. 

Doctrine of Election. Eph. 1 : 45. 

Doctrine of Reprobation. Jer. 6 : 30. 

The love of the world. John 2 : 15. 

The love of God for a sinning woild. John 3 : 16. 

Trusting in the mercy of God. Ps. 52 : 8. 

The wages of sin. Rom. 6 : 23. 

The Saviour lifted up, and the look of faith. John 3 : 14, 15 
12 : 32, 33. 

The excuses of sinners condemn God. Jcb 40 : 8. 

The sinner's excuses answered. Job 36 : 1-3. 

On refuges of lies. Isa. 28 : 17. 

The wicked heart set to do evil. Eccles. 8 : 11. 

Moral insanity. Eccles. 9 : 3. 

Conditions of being saved. Acts 16 : 30. 

The sinner's natural power and moral weakness. 2 Pet. 2 : 19. 

The atonement as a governmental expedient. 1 Cor. 15:3; Ron 
3 : 25,26. 



226 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Where sin occurs God cannot wisely prevent it. Luke 17 : 10. 
The inner and the outer revelation. 2 Cor. 4 : 2. 
Quenching the Spirit. 1 Thes. 5 : 19. 
The spirit not striving always. Gen. 6 : 3. 
Christ our Advocate. 1 John 2:1,2. 
God's love commended to us. Rom. 5:8. 

Prayer and labor for the gathering of the great harvest. Matt. 
10 : 36-38. 

Converting sinners a Christian duty. Jas. 5 : 19, 20. 
Men often highly esteem what God abhors. Luke 16 : 15. 
Victory over the world through faith. John 5 : 4. 
Death to sin through Christ. Rom. 6 : 11. 
The essential el ments of Christian experience. Matt. 5, 6. 

LECTURES— THEMES AND TEXTS. 

TO PROFESSING CHRISTIANS, DELIVERED IN NEW YORK CITY DURING 
THE YEARS 1836 AND 1837. 

i. Self-deceivers. Jas. 1 : 22. 

2. False professors. 2 Kings 17 : 33. 

3. Doubtful actions are sinful. Rom. 14 : 23. 

4. Reproof a Christian duty. Levit. 19 : 17. 

5. Tiue Saints. Exod. 32 : 26. 

6. Legal religion. Exod. 32 : 26. 

7. Religion of public opinion. John 12 : 43. 

8. Conformity to the world. Rom. 12 : 2. 

9. True and false repentance. 2 Cor. 7 : 10. 

10. Dishonest in one thing, dishonest in all things. Luke 16 : 10. 

11. Bound to know your true character. 2 Cor. 13 : 5. 

12. True and false conversion. Isa. 50: n. 

13. True submission. Jas. 4 : 7. 

14. Selfishness and true religion. 1 Cor. 13 : 5. 

15. Religion of the law and gospel. Rom. 9 : 30-33. 

16. Justification by Faith. Gal. 2 : 16. 

17. Sanctification by Faith. Rom. 3 : 31. 

18. Legal experience. Rom , chap. 7. 

19. Christian Perfection. Matt. 5 : 48. 

20. Christian Perfection. Matt. 5 : 48. 

21. Way of Salvation. Acts 16 : 30, 37. 

22. Necessity of divine teaching. John 16 : 7-13. 

23. Love the whole of religion. Rom. 13 : 10. 

24. Rest of the saints. Heb. 4 : 3. 

25. Christ the husband of the Church. Rom. 7 : 4. 



SERMONS BY REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 227 



SERMONS BY REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 

Mr. Prince, in his "Christian History," describes Mr. Ed- 
wards' s manner of preaching : ' ' He was a preacher of a low and 
moderate voice, a natural delivery, and without any agitation 
of body or anything else in his manner to excite attention, 
except his habitual and great solemnity, looking and speaking 
as in the presence of God, and with a weighty sense of the 
matter delivered." Mr. Edwards represents his congregation 
as having been " a rational and understanding people." We 
need not wonder, therefore, that they understood his " Sermons 
on Justification," which were delivered in Northampton about 
the time of the Great Awakening, and were, we are told, the 
means of great religious concern among his hearers. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Man's natural blindness in the things of religion. Ps. 94 : 9-11. 

Men naturally God's enemies. Rom. 5 : 10. 

Justification by Faith alone. Rom. 4 : 5. 

The Wisdom of God as displayed in the way of Salvation. Eph. 3 : ic. 

God glorified in Man's dependence. 1 Cor. 1 : 29-31. 

The excellency of Christ. Rev. 5 : 5-6. 

The final Judgment, or the world judged by Jesus Christ. Acts 

17 : 31. 

The Justice of God in the damnation of sinners. Rom. 3 : 19. 

The future punishment of the wicked unavoidable and intolerable. 
Ezek. 22 : 14. 

The eternity of Hell torments. Matt. 25 : 46. 

The wicked filling up the measure of their sins. 1 Thess. 2 : 16. 

The end of the wicked contemplated by the righteous. Rev. 18 : 20. 

Wicked men useful only in their destruction. Ezek. 15 : 2-4. 

Sinners in the hands of an angry God. Deut. 32 : 35. 

The vain self-flatteries of the sinner. Ps. 36 : 2. 

The warnings of Scripture best adapted to the awakening of sinners. 
Luke 16 : 31. 

Indetermination in religion unreasonable. 1 Kings 18 : 21. 

The Folly of Procrastination. Prov. 27 : 1. 

Unbelievers contemn the excellency of Christ. Acts 4 : n, 



228 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The best manner of seeking salvation. Gen. 6 : 22. 
Pressing into the Kingdom of God. Luke 16 : 16. 
The folly of looking back in fleeing from destruction. Luke 17 : 32. 
Ruth's inflexible resolution. Ruth 1 : 16. 
Pardon for the greatest sinners. Ps. 25 : 11. 

The Peace which Christ gives to His true followers. John 14 : 27. 
The reality of spiritual light. (For flesh and blood hath not re- 
vealed it unto thee. . . .) Matt. 16 : 7. 

True gt ace distinguished from the experience of devils, Jas. 2 : 19. 

Hypocrites deficient in the duty of prayer. Job 27 : 10. 

The tearfulness which will hereafter surprise hypocritts. Isa. 

33 : 14- 

In self examination great care necessary. Ps. 139 : 23, 24. 

A warning to professors who attend divine worship, and yet allow 
themselves in any known sin. Ezek. 23 : 37-39. 

God the best portion of the Christian. Ps. 73 : 25. 

God's Sovereignty. (Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have 
mercy.) Rom. 9 : 18. 

The Most High a prayer-hearing God. Ps. 65 : 2. 

Joseph's temptation and escape. Gen. 39 : 12. 

The Christian's life a journey toward Heaven. Heb. 11 : 13, 14. 



SERMONS BY REV. EBENEZER ERSKINE. 

E. Erskine was born 1680 and died 1754. He was minister at 
Stirling. He was not as popular as his brother Ralph, but 
as a leader of the Seceders, as a reformer, and an open-air 
preacher his influence was deservedly great. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The Holy Spirit as a wind blowing on the Dry Bones. Ezek. 37 : 9. 

The humble softl the favorite of heaven. (Though the Lord be high, 
yet hath he respect unto the lowly. . . .) Ps. 138 : 6. 

Christ in the Believer's arms. Luke 2 : 28. 

The Throne of Grace. (Justice and judgment are the habitation of 
thy throne : mercy and truih shall go before thy face.) Ps. 89 : 14. 

God in Christ a God of love. 1 John 4 : 16. 

Unbelief arraigned and condemned. John 3 : 18. 



SERMONS BY REV. RALPH ERSKINE, A.M. 229 

The Day-Spring ftom on high visiting us. Luke 1 : 7S. 

The Law of Faith issuing from mount Zion. Isa. 2 : 3. 

The standard of Heaven lifted up against the powers of Hell. Isa. 

59 : T 9- - 

Christ the Resurrection and the Life. John 11 : 25. 

Worthless man much regarded in the sight of God. Ps. 144 : 3. 

The Wise Virgins going forth to meet the Bridegroom. Matt. 25 : 6. 

God's doves flying to His windows. Isa. 60 : 8. 

Abraham rejoicing to see Christ's day, though distant. John 8 : 56. 

Christ as the breaker opening all passes to glory. (The breaker is 
come up . . ) Mic. 2 : 13. 

The Word of Salvation is sent to us. Acts 13 : 26. 

Christ in the Clouds coming to Judgment. Matt. 16 : 37. 



SERMONS BY REV. RALPH ERSKINE, A.M. 

Born 1685, died 1752. Minister in Dunfermline from 
171 1 to 1752.* 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The Main Question of the Gospel Catechism. (What think ye of 
Christ?) Matt. 22 : 42. 

The Woman of Samaria's sermon to the men of the city. John 
4 : 29. 

The Great Gathering of the people to Shiloh. Gen. 49 : 10. 

The Mediator's Power in Heaven and Earth. Matt. 28 : 18. 

Great sinners saved for the sake of God's great name. Ps. 107 : 8. 

A strong encouragement to Faith. (The Father loveth the Son, and 
hath given all things into his hand.) John 3 : 35. 

The law of God's house requires that its limits be holy. (This is 
the law of the house. . . .The whole limit thereof round about shall 
be holy.) Ezek. 43 : 12. 

The Church besieged but delivered by Christ. Eccles. 9 : 14, 15. 

Fed by the enthroned Lamb. Rev. 7 : 17. 

* This reformer, the friend and correspondent of Wesley andWhitefield, is charac- 
terized by the latter as ' l a field-preacher of the Scottish Church, a noble soldier of 
the Lord Jesus Christ." The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Tyng, Sr., says : " The works of 
Ralph Erskine have long been to me a mine of gold." There are two British editions 
of his works, that of 1777 and that of 1821. A selection of his sermons was published 
in Philadelphia in 1863, in 2 vols. 8vo. 



230 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Faith pleading with God to regard the Covenant. Ps. 74 : 20. 

Faith taking God at his word. (" Do as thou hast said.") 2 Sam. 
7 : 25. 

We are blessed from the day the foundation of the spiritual temple 
is laid. Hag. 2 : 9. 

The giving love of Christ and the receiving faith of Paul. Gal. 
2 : 20. 

The humiliation and pacification of the Gospel. Ezek. 16 : 63. 

The word of salvation sent to sinners. Acts 13 : 26. 

Gospel compulsion to fill the house. Luke 14 : 23. 

1. The ministerial commission : " compel them." 

2. The design of this power : "to compel them to come in." 

3. The reason of it : that his hou^e may be filled. 

4. Make some application of the whole. 

The Fountain-head of all Blessings. 2 Cor. 5:8. 

The tribe vanquished at first is victor at last. (Gad, a troop shall 
overcome him ; but he shall overcome at last.) Gen. 49 : 19. 

Christ the true Moses sent to deliver the true Israel. Acts 7 : 34. 

Satan bound and baffled by Christ. Luke 22 : 31, 32. 

Redemption of God and to God. 1 Cor. 1 : 30 ; Rev. 5 : 9. 

The true Christ no new Christ. Heb. 13 : 8. 

Preventing love. 1 John 4 : 19. 

Faith in Christ the sure way to relief. Jonah 2 : 4. 

The great rain and the great relief Hos. 13 : 9. 

Access to the Holy of Holies by the death of Christ. Matt. 27 : 51. 

The nature and. excellency of Gospel purity. Prov. 30 : 12. 

We ought not to consult with flesh and blood. Gal. 1 : 16. 

Witnesses cited for God. (Therefore ye are my witnesses that I am 
God ) Isa. 43 : 12. 

The comer's conflict. Luke 9 : 42. 

1. We shall speak a little of coming to Christ. 

2. In what respects matters may grow worse to people while they 
are coming to Christ. 

3. The reasons why such may find their distress grow before their 
rescue come. 

4. Make some application of the whole. 

The Saints more than conquerors. Rom. 8 : 37. 

The day of effectual calling the levelling day. Luke 19 : 5. 

Law-death and Gospel-life. Gal. 2 : 19. 

The happy hour of Christ's quickening voice. John 5 : 25. 

The duty of receiving Christ and walking in him. Col. 2 : 6. 

The gradual conquest, or heaven won little by little. Deut. 7 : 22. 



SERMONS BY CHRISTMAS EVANS. 231 

The best security for the best life. Col. 3 : 3. 

The eagle-winged believer.* (They shall mount up with wings as 
eagles.) Isa. 40 : 31. 



SERMONS BY CHRISTMAS EVANS. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The time of reformation. Heb. 9 : 10. 

The triumph of Calvary. (Who is this that cometh from Edom 

and I will bring down their strength to the earth). Isa. 63 : 1-6. 

The smitten rock, 1 Cor. 10 : 4. 

The fall and recovery of man.f Rom. 5 : 15. 

One God and one Mediator. 1 Tim. 2 : 5. 

The living Redeemer. Job 19 : 23-27. 

Messiah's Kingdom. Dan. 2 : 44-45. 

The sufferings of Christ. 1 Pet. 2 : 24. 

The purification of conscience. Heb. 9 : 14. 

The Cedar of God. Ezek. 17: 22-24. 

The Prince of Salvation. Heb. 2 : 10, and 5 : 9. 

Finished redemption. John 19 : 30. 

The Resurrection of Jesus. Matt. 28 : 6. 

The Ascension. Acts 3 : 21. 

Tribulation conquered. (In the world ye shall have tribulation ) 

John 16 : 33. 

* The Scotti>h celebration of the Lord's Supper in the days of Whitefield and the 
Erskines was very different from what it is in the Kirk of to-day. Now the ordinance 
is celebrated once in three months, or in some places once a month. Then the 
Lord's Supper was administered but once a year in each congregation. The occasion 
was one of general concourse for Christian people. For three days — Saturday, Sunday, 
and Monday — there were services for prayer and preaching. As these gatherings were 
always in the summer, and made up of the faithful of several parishes (the people fre- 
quenting a succession of communions) the numbers were so great that tents were pitched 
near the church for the protection of such as could not find room within. Not only 
the neighboring flocks but their pastors would be present, and those who did not meet 
their own pastors at these distant solemnities were admitted to them by " tokens." 
One part of the duties of the ministers was to " fence the tables," or to make such 
searching addresses to those who came to the communion as might serve to hinder 
all that were unqualified from sitting down at any of the successive tables that were 
provided for the throngs of communicants. It was at these festal seasons that many 
a revival commenced, and some of the celebrated sermons of Livingstone, Whitefield, 
and the Erskines were preached with remarkable power and success. 

t In this sermon is found his vision of the world as a graveyard. 



232 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The Glory of the Gospel. 2 Tim 1 : 11. 
The Song of the Angels. Luke 2 : 14. 

The Stone of Israel. (Upon one stone shall be seven eyes. . . .) 
Zech. 3 : 9. 

Justification by Faith. Job 9 : 2. 

The shield of faith. Eph. 6 : 16. 

The Paraclete. John 14 : 16, 17. 

The Father and Son glorified. John 16 : 13-15. 

Christ knocking at the Door.* Rev. 3 : 20. 



SERMONS BY REV. SAMUEL DAVIES, A.M. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The nature of Salvation through Jesus Christ. (For God so loved 
the world. . . .) John 3 : 16. 

Sinners entreated to be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5 : 20. 

The authority and sufficiency of the Christian religion. (If they 
hear not Moses and the prophets. . . .) Luke 16 : 27-31. 

The nature and universality of spiritual death. Eph. 2 : 4. 5. 

The nature and process of spiritual life. Eph. 2 : 4, 5. 

The poor in spirit and the contrite objects of the Divine favor. Isa. 
66 : 2. 

The nature and danger of making light of salvation. Matt, 22 : 5. 

The compassion of Christ to feeble believers. Matt. 12 : 20. 

The divine mercy to mourning penitents. (I have surely heard 
Ephraim bemoaning himself. . . .) Jer. 31 : 18-20. 

The danger of lukewarmness in religion. Rev. 3 : 15,16. 

The universal judgment. Acts 17 : 30, 31. 

The one thing needful. Luke 10 : 41, 42. 

The saints saved with difficulty, and the certain perdition of sinners. 
1 Pet 4 : 18. 

Ingratitude to God a heinous but general iniquity. 2 Chron. 32 : 25. 

Jesus Christ the only foundation. Isa. 28 : 16, 17. 

Dedication to God argued from redeeming mercy. (For yc are 
bought with a price. . . .) 1 Cor. 6 : 19, 20. 

* This sermon has not been entirely translated into English. The best part of it, 
however, has been translated and published by the American Tract Society, N. Y., as 
a tract, under the title, " Welsh Preaching," No. 637. 



SERMONS BY REV. SAMUEL DAVIE S, A.M. 233 

The enrolment of our names in Heaven the best ground of joy. 
Luke 10 : 20. 

Religion the highest wisdom, and sin the greatest folly. Ps. in : 10. 

Rejection of Christ a common but unreasonable sin. Mark 12 : 6. 

The doom of the incorrigible sinner. Prov. 29 : 1. 

The nature of looking to Jesus explained. Isa. 45 : 22. 

Arguments to enforce our looking to Jesus. Same text. 

Vessels of mercy and vessels of wrath delineated. Rom. 9 : 22-23. 

The nature and necessity of true repentance. (And the times of this 
ignorance God winked at. . . .) Acts 17 : 30. 

The wonderful compassion of Christ to the greatest of sinners. 
Matt. 23 : 37. 

The nature and author of regeneration. John 3 : 7. 

The way of sin hard and difficult. Acts 9 : 5. 

The characters of the whole and the sick contrasted. Matt. 9 : 12. 

The Gospel invitation. (A certain man made a great supper and 
bade many. . . .) Luke 14 : 21-24. 

The nature of justification by faith. Rom. 1 : 16-17. 

The success of the ministry owing to a Divine influence. 1 Cor. 

3 : 7- 

The rejection of Gospel Light the condemnation of men. John 

3 : 19- 

Time to awake out of sleep. (It is high time to awake out of sleep.) 
Rom. 13 : 11. 

The happy effects of the pouring out of the spirit. Isa. 32 : 13-19. 

Practical atheism in denying the agency of Divine Providence. 
Zeph. 1 : 12. 

The primitive and the present state of man compared. Rom. 

5: 17. 

Evidences of the want of love to God. John 5 : 42. 

Christmas-day sermon. The song of the angels. Luke 2 : 12, 14. 

Christians reminded of their solemn obligations. (Ye are witnesses 
... .we are witnesses. . . .) Josh. 24 : 22. 

The guilt and doom of impenitent hearers. Matt. 13 : 14. 

The apostolic valediction considered and applied. 2 Cor. 13 : 11. 



234 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

SERMONS BY TIMOTHY DWIGHT, D.D. 

OUTLINES. 

THE HARVEST PAST. 
Jer. 8:20.* 

The state of the people in whose name these words were uttered by 
the prophet. . .There are many situations in the life of man to which 
this lamentation may be applied. 

1. Every person who still remains in sin may at the close of a 
year usefully adopt this lamentation. 

2. A season in which religion prevails is also eminently a time of 
harvest ; and such as lose this season may well adopt with regard to 
themselves the lamentation of the text. 

3. Another situation in which this melancholy reflection is pecul- 
iarly applicable is that of a dying sinner. 

a. Human life is a continued scene of delusion, but on a dying 
bed it often vanishes. 

b. The retrospect of a dying sinner. 

c. His prospects. 

A JUST SENSE OF THE CHARACTER AND PRESENCE OF GOD A SOURCE 

OF REPENTANCE. 

Job 42 : 5-6. 

THE DANGER OF LOSING CONVICTIONS OF CONSCIENCE. 

Matt. 12 : 43-45. 

i. The miserable condition of an impenitent sinner before he is 

awakened to a serious conviction of his guilt ; he is inhabited by an 

"unclean spirit." 

2. Convictions of sin constitute in the eye of God an important 
change in the state of man. " When the unclean spirit is gone out of 
a man." 

3. We are here taught that beings absolutely sinful find neither 
rest nor enjoyment but in doing evil. " He walketh through dry 
places," etc. 

4. Persons under conviction are always in danger of falling anew 
into hardness of heart. " He saitb, I will return," etc. 

* " The delivery of this sermon, " says one of Dr. Dwight's biographers, " was in 
two instances the commencement of a revival of religion among his pupils : in the 
first of which nearly half of them united with the college church. Similar con- 
sequences have been ascribed to its delivery on two other occasions in different 



SERMONS BY TIMOTHY D WIGHT, D.D. 235 

5. The soul from which convictions of sin have been finally 
banished is more perfectly prepared to become the seat of absolute 
wickedness than before these convictions began. "He findeth it 
empty, swept, and garnished." 

6. The soul from which convictions of sin are finally banished be- 
comes far more sinful than before its convictions began. " He 
goeth and taketh," etc. 

Remarks. 

a. The immeasurable importance of cherishing in the heart con- 
victions of sin. 

b. The high interest which persons in this situation have in being 
directed in their duty by sound wisdom. 

c . The miserable situation of unawakened sinners. 

THE FOLLY OF TRUSTING OUR OWN HEARTS. 
Prov. 28 : 26. 

1. What is meant by trusting our own hearts. 

2. The folly of this conduct. 

THE PRODIGAL SON. 
Luke 15 : 11-17. (Sermon First.) 
i. Sinners regard God only so far as to gain from Him whatever 
they can. 

2. Sinners waste their blessings and reduce themselves to absolute 
want. 

3. Afflictions are very often means of bringing sinners to a sense 
of their condition. 

4. When sinners first acquire such a sense of their condition, they 
betake themselves to false measures of relief. 

5. The situation of sinners is eminently unhappy. 

6. The repentance of the Gospel is the resumption of a right mind. 

a. The sinner realizes his own miserable condition. 

b. He realizes that in his father's house there is an abundance of 
good. 

c. He begins to realize the hope that this gool may be his. 

THE PRODIGAL SON. 
Luke 15 : 18-24. (Sermon Second.) 

1. True repentance is a voluntary exercise of mind. 

2. True repentance is a filial temper, disposing us to regard God 
as our parent. 

3. It is followed by the confession of sin. 

4. A real penitent feels that his sins are committed against God. 



2 36 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

5. Consequently a real penitent is humble. 

6. He brings nothing to God but his want, shame, and sorrow. 

7. He executes his resolutions of obedience. 

8. God is entirely disposed to receive the sincere penitent. 

9. The richest provision is made for his enjoyment. 

10. There is peculiar joy in Heaven over the repentance of return- 
ing sinners. 

Remark. 

What inducements are here presented to sinners to return to God. 

THE DANGER OF OPPOSING RELIGION. 

Acts 5 : 38-39. 

Gamaliel's address to the Sanhedrim. 

My purpose is to engage those who hear me to shun all opposition 
to the revival and prevalence of religion. 

Observations : 1. This spirit of hatred is exactly the same as that of 
the Sanhedrim. 

2. The conduct of Gamaliel merits the highest commendation. 

1. This hostility and all its malignant effects are unnecessary and 
useless. 

a. Because Christians and Christianity will do no harm to good 
men and such as are seeking their own salvation. 

b. Because, if Christianity is a delusion, it will come to nothing of 
itself. 

c. Because, if it is true, all opposition to it will certainly fail. 

2. This opposition is in the highest degree dangerous. 

a. Every person who opposes the commencement or progress of 
religion in others hardens his own heart. 

b. He daily provokes the anger of God against himself. 

THOSE WHO BELIEVE NOT THE SCRIPTURES WOULD NOT BE PER- 
SUADED THOUGH ONE ROSE FROM THE DEAD. 
Luke 16 : 31. 
THE YOUNG MAN OF NAIN. 
Luke 7 : 11-15. 
The resurrection of this son of a widow was the first miracle of the 
kind which our Saviour performed. 

Consider this miracle of Christ as symbolical of one of greater in- 
terest which he performs by His Spirit. 

1. Every youth who is thus raised to life is, before this resurrection, 
spiritually dead. 

2. There is still room to hope that among you there may in the end 



SERMONS BY TIMOTHY D WIGHT, D.D. 237 

be found some youths of Nain ; some who, though now dead and to 
the human eye lost and gone forever, may yet be restored to life. 

3. For this resurrection to spiritual life, it is indispensable that 
such as desire to be interested in it should begin a total change of 
their conduct. 

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. 
Luke 16 : 26. 

ON REVIVALS OF RELIGION. 
Isa. 60 : 8. 

The question, Who are these ? plainly indicates that the persons 
spoken of were either unknown or unexpected. They are said to 
"fly as a cloud." They were a vast multitude, and were hastening 
to their place of destination. They are said to fly " as doves to their 
windows ;" they were considered as returning with dove-like spirit to 
their final and proper residence. Observe — 

1. At some future period avast multitude will be gathered into the 
Church of Christ. 

2. The multitude will in great measure consist of such persons as 
are not rationally expected to become Christians. 

3. These persons will enter the Church of their own accord and 
with great earnestness of mind. 

4. They will possess a dove-like character. 

Remarks. 

a. From these observations it is evident that there will hereafter 
be a general revival of religion in the world. 

b. This revival will furnish a solid foundation of joy to the uni- 
verse. 

c. Hence, it follows also, that the same things are partially true of 
every revival of religion. 

d. We are bound faithfully to labor and fervently to pray for the 
universal revival of religion. 

THE COMING OF CHRIST. 
Luke 12 : 40. 

1. What it is for which we are to be ready. 

2. What is included in being ready? 

3. The uncertainty of the event is a motive for immediate prepara- 
tion. 



238 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

THE DISAPPOINTMENTS WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE DAY OF 
JUDGMENT. 
Luke 13 : 28-30. (Sermon First.) 
i. Some of the human race will be shut out from the kingdom of 
God who confidently expected admission. 

2. Others, whom they expected to be shut out, will be received. 

(Sermon Second.) 

3. The distress occasioned by this disappointment will be very 
great. 

Remarks. 

a. Carefully determine what the genuine religion, required by the 
Gospel, is. 

b. Let every one examine the grounds of his hope of salvation. 

c. We should entertain very humble apprehensions of our own 
character. 

d. These considerations compel us to exercise charitable thoughts 
toward others. 



SERMONS BY REV. WILLIAM DAWSON. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Sowing in Time and Reaping in Eternity. .Gal. 4 : 7-8. (" Pulpit," 
vol. xxiii. p. 17.) 

Pardon to every Penitent Believer. Acts 13 : 38, 39. (Vol. xxiv. 
p. 169.) 

The Inestimable Value of the Soul. Matt. 16 : 26, 27. (Vol. xxi. 

P- 47 ) 

A Warning to Youth. Ps. 144 : n, 12. (Vol. xxvi. p. 193.) 

The Love of God to Man. John 3 : 16. (Vol. xxvii.) 

The Servant that was beaten with many stripes. Luke 12 147. 
(Vol xxxi. p. 499.) 

Faith rather than Fear. Mark 5 : 36. (" The Wesleyan Preacher," 
vol. ii. part 3, p. 52.) 

Work while it is day. John 9 14. (P. 148.) 

Invitation to enter the Ark. Gen. 7 : 1. 

The axe laid unto the root of the trees. Matt. 3 : 10. 

The separation of the wheat from the chaff. Matt. 3 : 12. 

The world gained, but the soul lost. Matt. 16 : 26. 

The Fear of Man— its Causes, Character, and Folly. Prov. 29 : 25. 

The Horrible Pit, the Prayer, and the New Song. Ps. 40 : 1-3. 



SERMON'S BY BENJAMIN COLMAN, D.D. 239 

The Righteous and the Wicked contrasted. Isa. 3 : 10, 11. 

Looking back. Luke 9 : 62. 

Sons of God, the Spirit crying in their hearts, Abba, Father. Gal. 

: 4-6. 

The Word of God prevailing over the books of magic. Acts 19 : 20. 

The invitation to the Gospel Feasts. Isa. 4 : 1, 2. 

A call to the Sleeper. Jonah 1 : 6. 

Weighed in the Balance and Found Wanting. Dan. 5 : 27. 

The Good Shepherd carrying the lambs in his bosom. Isa. 40 : n. 

The Prodigal returning home. Luke 15 : 20. 

" Come and see," or, Death on the Pale Horse. Rev. 6 : 7, 8. 

Warning the Wicked. Ezek. 3 : 17-19. 

We would see Jesus. John 12 : 21. 

Who is on the Lord's side ? Exodus 22 : 36. 

God's love to the world. John 3 : 16. 

To-day if ye will hear His voice. Heb. 3 : 15. 



SERMONS BY BENJAMIN COLMAN, D.D. 

OUTLINES. 

PLEASANT TO SEE SOULS FLYING TO CHRIST. 

Isa. 60: 8. 

Preached Oct. 21, 1740, at the cl se of IVhitef eld's labors in Boston* 

1. Exposition of the context. 

2. Explain the phraseology of the text. 
a. Clouds. 

a. The clouds driven before the wind. 

/3. The clouds fly in the open sky, in the sight of all. 
y. They fly irresistibly. 
<?. They fly high. 

b. Doves. They are clean and innocent birds, emblems of the Holy 
Spirit. 

a. They fly swiftly. 

* Dr. Colman ten years before (1730) preached four sermons to persuade young peo- 
ple to give their hearts to God. He also preached a series of sermons on the "Ten 
Virgins." Though he zealously co-operated with Whitefield, he took a middle course 
between those who fully approved and those who entirely discountenanced the work. 
He signed a testimonial in favor of Whitefield's labors, and yet he did not hesitate 
to condemn, both in his letters and published sermons, whatever, after further obser- 
vation, he found worthy of censure. — Rev. Dr. Sprague's ''Annals,' 1 vol. i.,p. 227. 



24-0 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

ft. They fly home eagerly at any noise or other cause of fright, 
y. They fly in flocks unto their windows. 
6. They fly for food, company, and rest. 

Application. 

1. The pleasure God has in this event. 

2. The delight all good people take in the spectacle. 

3. How pleasant must it be to pious ministers. 

4. It calls for wonder and admiration. 

5. Address to various classes of believers. 

6. To convinced and awakened sinners ; to the new converts and 
the reclaimed. 



SERMONS BY REV. DANIEL A. CLARK. 

OUTLINES. 

THE CONTROVERSY SETTLED. 
2 Cor. 5 : 10. 
i. Sinners are in a state of hostility to God, while He is graciously 
disposed toward them. 

2. There is no just cause for these hostile feelings toward God. 

3. The terms on which God will receive sinners to favor. 

4. Urge some of the motives to reconciliation. 

THE LOITERER AT THE VINEYARD. 
Matt. 20 : 6. 
" Why stand ye here all the day idle ? " 

1. Is it because you know not what you have to do ? 

2. Is it because it is not an important work to which you are 
called ? 

3. Is it because it is an unreasonable work ? 

4. Do you reply that there is time enough yet ? 

a. Will it be easier to begin to-morrow ? 

b. Will it be painful to be a Christian any longer than is absolutely 
necessary ? * 

c. Will God excuse you from beginning the work to-day ? 

Re?narks. 

a. You have reason to fear that God may be about to take back the 
offer. 



SERMONS BY REV. DANIEL A. CLARK. 241 

b. How horrid will be your regret that you did not accept the offer. 

c. The invitation is not one to pain, or danger, or misery. 

THE DESPERATE EFFORT. 
Matt. 11 : 12. 

Let me offer some reasons why you should try to be saved. 

a. You cannot expect to be saved without trying. 

b. In striving to be saved, you have the assurance of success. 

c. You should try, because with a more heavenly temper you can be 
more useful in life. 

d. Because you could be more useful in heaven. 

e. Because you could be so happy in heaven. 

f. What others have done for your salvation should induce you to 
try. 

g. You should try, because if you do not you must be infinitely de- 
graded in hell. 

//. If you are not saved, the most bitter reflections await you. 
i. The longer you postpone, the less likely it is that you will ever 
attempt it. 
j. Do you postpone because you have not had your fill of sin ? 

Remarks. 

a. Why does God make it so difficult to get to heaven ? 

b. If we reach heaven with difficulty, it will always seem worth more 
for the cost of it. 

THE MERCIES OF GOD NOT RECIPROCATED. 

Isa. 1 : 32. 

i. God has brought us up as children. 
2. We have rebelled against Him. 

RECIPE FOR A REVIVAL. 
2 Chron. 7 : 14. 
i. The Lord has in this world a precious people. 

2. They are called by His name. 

3. If they shall humble themselves. 

4. And pray. 

5. And seek God's face. 

6. And turn from their evil ways. 

7. He will hear from heaven. 

8. And forgive their sins. 

9. And heal their land. 



242 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Remarks. 

i. Do you say we depend for a revival too much on human contriv- 
ance ? We can only say it is God's own contrivance. 

2. Thus the church is a Jacob's ladder communicating between God 
and the world, presenting to Him its wants, and serving as a medium 
of His favors. 

3. How important and responsible a situation the Christian fills. 
How important, therefore, that he should perform the duties incum- 
bent on him. 

SINNERS WEARY THEMSELVES TO COMMIT INIQUITY. 
Jer. 10 : 5. 
They are in vexation and conflict of mind because of their opposi- 
tion to the will of God. 

i. The sinner must sustain morality without piety. 

2. He must feel secure without a promise. 

3. He must hope for heaven while forming a character for perdition. 

4. He must resist Christ without a cause. 

5. He must try to be happy while guilty. 

6. He must have enough of the world to supply the place of God 
in his heart. 

7. He must arrange matters for death, while he is afraid to think of 
dying. 

8. He must read the Bible, while he is afraid to think or pray. 

Concluding Thoughts. 

1. We should have compassion for a suffering world. 

2. We should do all we can to relieve this miserable condition of 
our fellow-men. 

THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME NEAR TO SINNERS. 
Luke 10 : 11. 
i. When may the kingdom of God (or the Gospel) be said to come 
nigh to an individual or a people ? 

a. When it comes within the hearing of the ear. 

b. When it reaches the understanding. 

c. When it gains access to the conscience. 

2. Why the Gospel is brought nigh to some who are finally lost. 

WHY WILL YE DIE? 
Ezek. 33 : it. 
Men have started in a course that must, as they ought to know, end 
in eternal ruin, for — 



SERMONS BY J. A. CLARK, D.D. 243 

1. They break the law of God, knowing what the penalty is. 

2. They reject Christ Jesus the only Redeemer. 

3. The Holy Ghost, the only regenerator and sanctifier. 

4. They are forming a character for perdition when a totally differ- 
ent character is demanded to fit them for heaven. 

Remarks. 

1. Will it prove you brave to dare the Eternal to His face ? 

2. Will it prove you wise to place so small a value on your soul ? 

3. Will it prove you good to place so low an estimate on the blood 
of Christ and the glory of God ? 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The bridgeless Gulf. Luke 16 : 26. 
Grieving the Holy Spirit. Eph. 4 : 30. 
Terms of Divine Acceptance. Acts 16 : 30. 
Salvation made sure. John 6 : 37. 
The sinner's desperate pursuit of sin. Jer. 3 : 5. 
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 
Hebrews 10 ; 31. 
Where is the blessedness ye spoke of? Gal. 4 : 15. 
The righteous saved with difficulty. 1 Pet. 4 : 18. 
God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18 : 13. 
Look and Live, or the Brazen Serpent. John 3 : 14. 
Why do revivals cease ? Matt. 8 : 34. 
The delay of God in punishing sinners. Eccles. 8 : 11. 
The duty of immediate repentance. Acts 17 : 30. 
The Gospel offer should be accepted without delay. 2 Cor. 6 : 2. 
Perdition a dark spot in the moral landscape. Ezek. 18 : 32. 



SERMONS BY J. A. CLARK, D.D., 

Some time Rector of St. Andrews Church, Philadelphia* 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Unconverted men are asleep. Eph. 5 : 14. 
Unconverted men must be awakened. Same text. 

* These sermons were published in full under the title, tk Awake, thou that sleep- 
est," by Robert Carter, N. Y., 1844. (Pp. 244, i2mo.) 



244 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Importance of immediate attention to Religion. (Go thy way for 
this time. . .) Acts 24 : 25. 

The absurdity, danger, and guilt of procrastination. 2. Cor. 6 : 2, 
and Acts 24 : 25. 

The sinner must be convinced of sin. Jer. 2 : 23. 

The sinfulness of the unconverted state. Same text. 

Objections to the endless punishment of the wicked answered. 
Rom. 3 : 9. 

How sin is taken away. (Behold the Lamb of God. . . .) John 1 : 29. 

If Christ be rejected, there can be no salvation. Heb. 10 : 26. 

The freedom of the Gospel salvation. Rev. 22 ; 17. 



SERMONS BY REV. JAMES CAUGHEY. 

OUTLINES. 

THE STANDING DOUBT. 
1 Thess. 5 : 16-18. 
i. Show that it is the privilege of the Christian to rejoice evermore. 
2. State the reason why so many professors do not attain to this 
happy state. 

THE OMNIPOTENCE OF FAITH. 
Mark 11 : 24. 

1. Is there any difference between faith and believing? 

2. Is faith the gift of God ? 

3. How can you account for it that there is in some a greater apt- 
ness to believe than in others ? 

4. Are the objects of faith limited ? 

5. How can we reconcile the phraseology of the text and believe 
that we have in the present what is spoken of in the future tense? 

6. What preparation must a man have in order to believe ? 

PURIFICATION BY FAITH. 
Acts 15 : 9. 

1. Why does God purify the heart by faith? 

2. What is faith ? 

3. What is the difference between faith and knowledge ? 

4. What degrees of faith are necessary to salvation ? 

THE FEAR OF DEATH DESTROYED BY THE SIGHT OF CHRIST. 
Luke 2 : 26. 
i. God always honors pre-eminently devoted men. 



SERMONS BY REV. JAMES CA UGHE Y. 245 

2. Simeon was a man of this description. 

3. Yet he had great discouragements in obtaining a sight of Christ. 

THE FULNESS THAT DWELLS IN JESUS CHRIST. 

Col. 1 : 19. 

THE FEAR OF UNCONVERTED MEN IN THE HOUR OF DEATH. 

Heb. 2 : 14. 

i. The unconverted are afraid to die. 
2. Christians are not afraid to die. 

QUENCHING THE SPIRIT. 
1 Thess. 5 : 19. 
i. The Spirit's operations are true. 
2. The Spirit's operations may be quenched. 

THE STRIVING OF THE SPIRIT. 
Gen. 6 : 3. 

1. A great fact stated — the striving of the Spirit. 

2. A dreadful event predicted. The Spirit ceasing to strive. 

THE STING OF DEATH, 
i Cor. 15 : 56, and Heb. 6 : 1. 
Proposition : If a happy death-bed be desirable, and a miserable 
death-bed is to be deprecated, then go on to perfection. 

A CALL TO DECISION. 
1 Kings 18 : 21. 

1. What are we to understand by halting between two opinions ? 

2. What are the causes of this halting ? 

3.. You remain undecided because you will not pay the price de- 
manded by decision. 

Plain dealing with obstinate sinners. And shall cast them into a 
furnace of fire ) Matt. 13 : 41-43. 

A warning to sinners. Same text. 

Alarming cries. Same text. 

An invitation to straitened souls (a farewell sermon). (A broad place 
where there is no straitness.) Job 36 : 16. 



246 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

SERMONS BY REV. T. T. CASTLEMAN, 

Of Staunton, Va. 

(From a volume entitled, " Plain Sermons for Servants." Some of 
these sermons were given by other clergymen of the Episcopal Church ) 

OUTLINES. 

JONAH CAST INTO THE SEA ; OR, THE SINNER UNDER CONVICTION. 
Jonah 1 : 12. 

1. When Jonah was awakened he saw that be had sinned against 
God. 

2. Jonah did not try to excuse himself ; he condemned himself. 

3. Jonah saw that he had no power to save himself. 

4. Jonah was in great darkness and trouble, yet not without hope. 

5. Jonah despaired of saving himself, but trusted in God. 

THE WAY TO OBTAIN GOD'S FAVOR. 
I entreated thy favor with my whole heart Ps. 119 : 58. 

1. Entreat God's favor. 

2.. Entreat with the whole heart. 

3. Accept the terms of mercy as revealed in God's Word. (This 
partition is now first suggested. The original has none.) 

GOD'S WONDROUS LOVE TO SINNERS. 
1 John 3 : 1. 

i. The love of the Father is too great for man to measure. 

2. He offers it to us without money and without price. 

3. Yet the Father's love to us was a costly love. 

4. His love to us is full of strength and tenderness. 

5. The love of the Father to us is abundant. 

6. His love extends to the worst sinners. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Sin a disease cured by Jesus Christ. (And as Moses lifted up the 
serpent in the wilderness . . .) John 3 : 14, 15. 

Beginning a religious life. " Grow in grace." 2 Pet. 3 : 18. 

How the Christian grows in grace. Mark 4 : 28. 

The Christian like a tree by the water side. (For he shall be like a 
tree. . . .that spreadeth out her roots by the river . . .) Jer. 17 : 8. 

The careless Christian warned. Matt. 25 : 8. 

All of us must give account to God. Rom. 14 : 12. 



SERMONS BY REV. DAVID BRAINERD. 247 

Outward religion not enough to fit us for heaven. Matt. 7 : 21. 
The refreshing grace of the Gospel. Prov. 25 : 25. 
The Taithful Christian shall wear a crown. Rev. 2 : 10. 



SERMONS BY REV. DAVID BRAINERD. 

(Preached while missionary among the Indians of 
New Jersey and Pennsylvania.) 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

"Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills," etc. Jer. 
3: 23. 

Behold these three years I come seeking fruit, etc. Luke 13 : 7. 

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound, etc. Ps. 89 : 15. 

Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, etc. John 7 : 37. 

Will ye also go away ? John 6 : 67. 

As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death, etc. 
Ezek. 33 : 11. 

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, etc. Isa. 53 : 10. 

I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Ps. 17 : 15. 

And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. Rev. 
2 : 17. 

Herein is love, not that we loved God, etc. 1 John 4 : 10. 

He is despised and rejected of men, etc. Isa. 53 : 3-10. 

Then said he unto him, a certain man made a great supper, etc. 
Luke 14 : 16-23. 

Behold a sower went forth to sow, etc. Matt. 13 : 3-23. 

Come unto me, all ye that labor, etc. Matt. 11 : 28. 

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 
Luke 19 : 10. 

Parable of the Prodigal Son. Luke 15 : 11-32. 

Apostle Peter's sermon at Pentecost. Acts 2 : 1-40. 

Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. Acts 
10 : 34. 

And he came to Nazareth, etc. Luke 4 : 16-21. 

Ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles, etc. John 6 : 26-34. 

1 am the bread of life, etc. John 6 : 35-40. 

Ho ! every one that thirsteth, etc. Isa. 55 : 1. 

No man can come unto me except, etc. John 6 : 44-50. 



248 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

But I would not have you ignorant, etc. 1 Thess. 4 : 13-17. 
Parable of the Lost Sheep. Luke 15 : 3-7. 
Behold, I stand at the door and knock, etc. Rev. 3 : 20. 
I am the living bread which came down from heaven, etc. John 
6: 51-55. 

And others, tempting him, sought a sign, etc. Luke 11 : 16-23. 

Ye have sold yourselves for naught, etc. Isa. 52 : 3-6. 

Therefore let the house of Israel know assuredly, etc. Acts 2 : 36- 

39- 

Let not your heart be troubled, etc. John 14 : 1-6. 

I am the door of the sheep, etc. John 10 : 7-11. 

The conversion of the jailer. Acts 16 : 16-33. 

Exposition on the restoration of Eutychus. Acts 20 : 1-12. 

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest, etc. John 4 : 13, 
14. 

The resurrection of the dead. Luke 20 : 27-36. 

The marriage of the king's son. Matt. 22 : 1-13. 

It is easier for heaven and earth, etc. Luke 16 : 17. 

The resurrection of Lazarus. John, nth chap. 

The account of Zaccheus. Luke ig : 1-9. 

The miracle at Bethesda. John 5 : 1-9. 

The Transfiguration. Luke 9 : 28-36. 

Parable of the rich man and Lazurus. Luke 16 : 19-26. 

The prayer of the rich man for his brethren. Luke 16 : 27-31. 

The account of the blind man. John, 9th chap. 

The Parable of the Ten Virgins. Matt., 25th chap. 

The Master teaching to pray. Luke n : 1-13. 

Striving to enter in at the strait gate, etc. Luke 13 : 24-28. 

The wicked sentenced. Matt. 25 : 31 -46. 

The rich young man. Matt. 19 : 16-22. 

The parable of the barren fig-tree. Luke 13 : 6-9. 

The necessity of regeneration. John 3 : 1-5. 

The withered hand healed. Matt. 12 : 10-13. 

Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, etc. Isa. 55:6. 

Let the wicked forsake his way, etc. Isa. 55 : 7. 

Blind Bartimeus healed. Mark 10 : 46-52. 

Philip preaching in Samaria. Acts 8 : 5-8. 

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life, etc. John 6 : 35- 

37. 

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, etc. John 15 : 16, 
The one thing needful. Luke 10 ; 38-42. 
The great salvation. Heb. 2 : 1-3. 



SERMONS BY REV. JOHN BERRIDGE, M.A. 249 

" O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself." Hosea 13 : 9. 

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, etc. Acts 3 : 19. 

The day of judgment. Matt. 25 : 3T-40. 

" Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord," etc. Matt. 7 : 
21-23. 

" Who gave himself for us," etc. Titus 2 : 14. 

" Ye will not come to me that ye might have life." John 5 : 40. 

High feelings not to be sought for their own sake." Acts 20 : 18- 
19. 

"He that believeth on me, believeth not on me," etc. John 12 : 
44-48. 

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, etc. 2 Cor. 5:17. 

Take my yoke upon you, etc. Matt. 11 : 29. 

And I will pour upon the house of David, etc. Zech. 12 : 10. 

Behold the Lamb of God, etc. John 1 : 29. 



SERMONS BY REV. JOHN BERRIDGE, M.A. 

Berridge's sermons were for the most part practical and experimen- 
tal. Although a humorist by nature, his sermons are marked by uniform 
gravity. After considerable research we have discovered what we 
hardly hoped to find — a number of the revival texts of this gifted but 
eccentric preacher. Almost all of those which have come down to us 
were intended for young converts. A special work of grace began in his 
parish during the summer of 1759, when he invited Wesley to assist 
him in field-preaching. The Journal of Wesley (No. n, from May 28th 
to Nov. 25th, 1759) gives a short account of this awakening in the 
region of which Everton was the centre. Within a single year about 
two thousand souls were awakened in connection with his ministry 
and that of Mr. Hicks. At this time Berridge preached ten or twelve 
sermons a week, more or less in the open air, although he then suf- 
fered from great bodily weakness. But when he was feeblest the Spirit 
so strengthened him *hat his voice sounded out to a very great dis- 
tance. " I have," said an ear-witness, "heard Whitefield speak as 
loud, but not with such a continued, strong, unbroken tenor." In 1776 
Mr. Berridge labored for three months in London. He had the largest 
congregat ons that were ever known, considering the average attend- 
ance ; and greatly were his sermons and prayers owned of the Lord in 
that city. One saying of his is worth remembering : " Much reading 
and thinking may make a popular preacher, but much secret prayer 



250 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

must make a powerful preacher." His little book, " The Christian 
World Unmasked," gives one some notion of the humor, good sense, 
and closeness of application which marked his sermons. A volume, 
his " Life and Letters," was republished in London in 1864 (i2mo, pp. 
632). 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

With the Lord there is plenteous redemption. Ps. 130 : 7, 8. 

Every man to till his own heart as a piece of land. (He that tilleth 
bis land shall have plenty of bread. . . .) Prov. 28 : 19. 

Christ giveth His bread to the poor. Prov. 22 : 9. 

In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isa. 26 : 3, 4. 

Seeking and rinding mercy, Isa. 55 : 6, 7. 

Breaking up fallow ground. Jer. 4 : 3, 4. 

Christ the Great Physician. Jer. 33 : 6. 

Our Redeemer successfully pleading our cause. Jer. 50 : 33, 34. 

Salvation is of the Lord. Ezek. 36 : 25-27. 

God delights in mercy. Micah 7 : 18. 

An example of importunity. Matt. 15 : 28. 

The Kingdom is iighteousness, peace, and joy. Luke 12 : 31,32. 

Keeping the commandments. John 14 : 15-17. 

The Lord's commission to Paul. Acts 26 : 17, 18. 

The blessed effects of tribulation. Rom. 5 : 3-5. 

The carnally minded and the spiritually minded. Rom. 8 : 6, 7. 

The Father giving to us ail things freely. Rom. 8 : 32. 

Ministers pens, grace the ink, the heart the parchment. (Ye are our 
epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.) 2 Cor. 3 : 2. 

Christ dwelling in us as the hope of glory. Col. 1 : 27, 28. 

Thanks to God for the conversion of sinners. 2 Thess. 2:13, 14. 

The faithful saying. 1 Tim. 1 : 15. 

Fight the good fight of faith. 1 Tim. 6:12. 

Be strong in the grace of Christ. 2 Tim. 2:1. 

Able to save to the uttermost. Heb. 7 : 25. 

The Law written in the heart. Heb. 8 : 10. 

The double-mindedness of believers and unbelievers. Jas. 4 : S. 

Christ precious to believers. 1 Pet. 2 : 7. 

Having the form of godliness, but denying its power. 2 Tim. 3 : 5. 

Justification not by works, but by faith. Gal. 3 : 10, 11. 

The gospel invitation to the hungry and thirsty. Isa. 55 : 1. 

Farewell Sermon : God our refuge and trust. Ps. 62 : 8. 



SERMONS BY REV. ALBERT BARNES. 251 



SERMONS BY DANIEL BAKER, D.D. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The truth and excellence of the Christian Religion. (For their 
rock is not as our Rock ) Deut. 32 : 31. 

The greatness of God. Ps. 104 : 1. 

Christ the Mediator. Philip. 2 : 6-1 1. 

The uses of the law. Gal. 3 : 19. 

The sinner weighed and found wanting. Dan. 5 : 27. 

The character and reward of the earthly minded. Prov. 3 : 35. 

The Deluge. Gen. 7 : 1. 

War in Heaven. Rev. 12 : 7, 8. 

On seeking the Lord. Isa. 55 : 6. 

The duty of coming to Christ. John 6 : 44. 

Vain excuses. Luke 14 : 18. 

Idleness reproved. Matt. 20 : 6. 

The necessity of preparation for death. John 9 : 4. 

Precious Faith. 2 Pet. I : 1. 

The fulfilment of prophecy. 2 Pet. 1 : 21. 

The nature, sinfulness, and consequences of unbelief. Mark 16 : 16. 

Justification. Rom. 5 : 1, 2. 

Naaman. 2 Kings 5 : 12. 

The example of Eli. 1 Sam. 3 : 13. 

Prove your own work. Gal. 6 : 4. 

The sufferings of Christ and their design. Mark 15 : 13. 

The tomb of Jesus. Matt. 28 : 6. 

Christian morality. Philip. 4 : 8. 

A sermon to young men. 1 Chron. 28 : 9. 

The sovereignty of God. Rev. 19 : 6. 

The blessedness of being a Christian. 1 John 3 : 2. 

The danger of procrastination. (And he said, To-morrow.) Exod. 
8 : 10. 



SERMONS BY REV. ALBERT BARNES. 

Mr. Barnes was in many points a model revivalist for a cul- 
tivated community, and his lectures on revivals in the "Nation- 
al Preacher ' ' are of value and interest to such preachers as have 
prejudices against these works of grace to remove, either irr 



John 6 : 


68. 


:■ 25 


: 26 


,27. 


: 11. 






22, 


23 


; Matt. 



252 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

themselves or others. We subjoin a list of his sermons from a 
volume entitled " The Way of Salvation," prepared in 1835 at 
the suggestion of British publishers, Messrs. Knight & Son, 
London. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Man not benefited by the rejection of Christianity. 
The earth a place of probation. Acts 17 : 26, 27. 
It is wise to submit to the Divine Government. Matt. 
The state in which the Gospel finds man. Matt. li 
What must I do to be saved ? Acts 16 : 30. 
Conviction of sin. Ps. 51 : 4. 

The struggles of a convicted sinner. Mark 10 
8 : 21, 22 ; Luke 9 : 61, 62. 
The remedy for a wounded spirit. Prov. iS : 14. 
Permanent peace for the convicted soul. Jer. 6:14 ; Luke 7 : 48-50. 
The atonement giving peace to the convicted. 1 John 1 : 7. 
The atonement in its relation to pardon. Col. 1 : 20. 
The necessity of regeneration. John 3 : 3. 
The nature of regeneration. 2 Cor. 5:17. 
The Spirit's agency in regeneration. Titus 3 : 5. 
The nature of repentance. Acts 20 : 21. 
Repentance in its relation to pardon. Acts 3 : 19. 
The evidence of true repentance. 2 Cor. 7 : 9-11. 
Faith a condition of salvation. Mark 16 : 16. 
The importance of faith. Heb. n : 6. 
Faith as a principle of action. 2 Cor. 5 : 7. 
How shall man be just with God ? Job 25 : 4. 
Man cannot dispiove the charge of guilt. Rom. 3 : 20. 
Man cannot show that his conduct is right. Rom. 3 : 20. 
Men cannot merit salvation. Job 35 : 5-8. 
What is meant by the merits of Christ? John 1 : 16. 
How are we justified by the merits of Christ? Rom. 3 : 24. 
The relation of faith to justification. Rom. 1 : 16, 17. 
The prime importance of justification, Rom. 1:17. 



SERMON'S BY REV. EMERSON ANDRE WS. 253 

SERMONS BY REV. JEDEDIAH BURCHARD.* 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

Prayer for the restoration of saving joy. Ps. 51 : 12, 13. 

The conduct of Bartimeus recommended to sinners. Mark 10 : 
46-52. 

Coming to Christ as illustrated by Peter walking on the water. 
Matt. 14 : 22-31. 

The necessity of regeneration. John 5 : 3. 

Sermon addressed to young converts on watchfulness, etc. (no text). 



SERMONS BY REV. EMERSON ANDREWS. 

THEMES AND TEXTS. 

CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM. 
Luke 19 : 41, 42. 

1. Why did Christ weep ? 

2. What belonged to their peace ? 

3. The Jews had their day of grace. 
Filled with the Spirit. Eph. 5 : 18. 
The new birth. John 3 : 7. 

The Christian lawsuit. Matt. 5 : 25. 

1. God has an action against sinners. 

2. Notice the only terms of reconciliation. 

3. Why you should settle your case quickly. 

4. Beware of deferring reconciliation until the judgment day. 

5. Behold the blessings of gracious reconciliation. 

THE IMPORTUNATE CRY. 
Habakkuk i : 2. 

1. How long ministers may cry and not be heard. 

2. How long churches and Christians may cry and not be heard. 

* This zealous but eccentric evangelist, who was popular in New York and New 
England about the years 1831-35, was very unwilling that any one should report his 
sermons. On one occasion, having detected a reporter taking notes of his sermon, he 
invited him to come forward to the anxious-seat to be prayed for, assuring him that 
taking notes was a bad business for his soul. 



254 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

3. How long convicted sinners may cry and not be heard. 

The Great Salvation. Heb. 2 : 3. 

Spiritual Farming. Hosea 10 : 12. 

The soul's gain or loss. Mark 8 : 36, 37. 

Christ knocking at the door. Rev. 3 : 20. 

The sinner's hard way. Prov. 13 : 15. 

The power of the Spirit. Zech. 4 : 6. 

The spiritual looking-glass. Jas. 1 : 23. 

Preparation for meeting God. Amos 4 : 12. 

Revivals. Hab. 3 : 2. 

Effectual prayer. Jas. 5 : 16. 

Possessing the land for God. Josh. 13 : 1. 

Sin hunting sinners. Num. 32 : 23. 

Not caring for souls. Ps. 142 : 4. 

The Barren Fig-tree. Luke 13 : 7. 

Love to God. Matt. 22 : 37. 

God's inquisition for blood. Ps. 9 : 12. 

Reasons why we should accept salvation. Acts 13 : 26. 

The tokens of perdition. Phil. 1 : 28. 

The great election day. Josh. 24 : 15. 

The worth of the soul. Ps. 49 : 8. 

Bringing in the tithes. Mai. 3 : 10. 

The sinner's excuses. Luke 14 : 18. 

The General Judgment. 2 Cor. 5 : 10. 

God's witnesses. Isa. 43 : 10. 

The Resurrection. Acts 26 : 8. 

Gospel power. Rom. 1 : 16. 

The Prodigal Son. Luke 15 : 18. 

A good hope. 1 John 3 : 3. 

Christ's Kingdom. John iS : 36. 

Christian conversion. Acts 3 : 19. 

Glorying in the Cross. Gal. 6 : 14. 

Christian union. Eph. 4 : 3. 

The Christian race. Heb. 12 : 1. 

The sinner's shipwreck. 1 Tim. 1 : 19. 

Intemperance. Prov. 23 : 21. 

A minister's responsibility. Acts 20 : 26. 

The great change. 2 Cor. 5 : 17 

Awakening. Rom. 13 : 11. 

Constraining love. 2 Cor. 5 : 14. 

Gracious election. Rom. 8 : 33. 

The spiritual voyage. Acts 27 : 31. 



REVIVAL SERMONS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 255 

The unspeakable gift. 2 Cor. 9 : 15. 

Benevolence. Gal. 6 : 10. 

Christ precious. 1 Pet. 2 : 7. 

The evangelist. 2 Tim. 4 : 5. 

Christ our Beloved. Song of Sol. 2 : 16. 

Direction to inquirers. Acts 2 : 37. 

The great change. Mark 5 : 19. 

Converting souls. Jas. 5 : 20. 

Christian reforms. Isa. 66 : 8. 

Harvest-time. John 4 : 35. 

A time to dance. Eccles. 3 : 4. 

Christian union. Ps. 133 : 1. 

Gospel reformation. Acts 3 : 19. 

Revival Triumphs. 2 Cor. 2 : 14. 

Cheerful Christians. John 16 : 33. 

Sufficiency in God. 2 Cor. 3 : 5.. 

Bible conversion. Ps. 51 : 13. 

Why not saved ? Jer. 8 : 20. 

Glorify God in the fires. Isa. 24 : 15. 

Their way is their folly. Ps. 19 : 13. 

The Christian's farewell. 2 Cor. 13 : 11. 



REVIVAL SERMONS FROM VARIOUS 
SOURCES. 



FROM "SKETCHES OF SERMONS PUBLISHED BY 
THEIR RESPECTIVE AUTHORS." 

(American edition, Philadelphia, 1844.) 

SINNERS RETURNING TO GOD. 
Jer. 50 : 4, 5. 
i. In those days the children of Israel shall come, they and the 
children of Judah together. 

2. Going and weeping. 

3. To seek the Lord their God. 

4. They ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward. 

5. Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord In a perpetual cove- 
nant. Gamma. 



256 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

; THE HOLY GHOST OBTAINED IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. 
Luke 11 : 13. 

1. These words exhibit our privilege as the followers of Christ. 

a. Who is meant by the Holy Ghost. 

b. His presence is enjoyed by all Christians. 

c. For what purpose he is received by them. 

2. Prescribe our duty. This is to ask as God requires. 

a. Ask sincerely. 

b. Ask evangelically, i.e. in entire dependence on the mediation of 
Christ. 

c. Ask importunately. 

d. Ask believingly. 

3. Encourage our hope. If, then, ye, etc. 

a. Mankind naturally evil. 

b. Yet they know how to give good gifts to their children. 
(a) Good gifts. 

(/3) They give them. 

(y) Knozv how, etc. Sufficient wisdom to adapt them to the charac- 
ter and wants of the child. 

c. But God is certainly your Father if you ask the Holy Spirit as He 
requires. 2 Cor. 6 : 17, 18. 

d. And God being your Father, you cannot fail of obtaining the 
gift of the Holy Spirit ; He is all-sufficient, He is engaged to give the 
Spirit. He is a good, a wise, and a gracious Father. 

Application. 

a. Recollect you privilege, with self-examination. 

b. Recollect your duty, with perseverance in it. 

c. Recollect your encouragement, with steadfast hope. 

Alpha, 
the important question. 

Dost thou believe on the Son God ? John 9 : 35. 
i. The nature of the question. 

2. Offer some helps to assist you in answering it. 

3. State some reasons why an answer should be given. 

Beta, 
paul's discourse before felix. 

Acts 24 : 25. 
i. The manner of the Apostle's preaching. He reasoned, etc. 

2. The effect of his preaching. Felix trembled. 

3. The conduct of his hearer. " And answered, Go thy way," etc. 

Eta. 



REVIVAL SERMONS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 257 

SINNERS BROUGHT NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. 
Eph. 2 : 13. 

i. We were sometimes far off. 

2. Now are we made nigh. These words convey to the mind 
ideas of — 

a. Relationship. 

b. Friendship. 

c. Union. 

d. Fellowship. 

3. In Christ Jesus, by the blood of Christ. 

Gamma. 

address to the fallen. 

Rev. 2 : 5. 

i. The fall. 

2. The means by which they may rise again. 

INDECISION. 
1 Kings 18 : 21. 

1. The evidence of indecision in religion. 

a. The undecided keep the ordinances of God only in part. 

b. Rest in external acts of public worship or other duty. 

c. Engage more heartily in secular pursuits than in eternal concerns. 

d. Without spiritual comfort. 

2. The evil of it. 

3. Means suggested for the abandonment of this habit. 

Alpha, 
manasseh's repentance. 

2 Chron. 33 : 12, 13. 
i. His character as a sinner. 

2. His conduct as a penitent. 

3. His salvation as a believer. f 

Eta. 

the revival of the work of god at home intimately con- 
nected with its extension abroad. 

Ps. 67 : 1, 2. 

Omega, 
the redeemer's complaint. 

John 5 : 40. 

i. We have our natural state evidently implied : the opposite of 
'.' life," a state of death. 

2. We are pointed to the source of life: " Ye will not come unto 
me." 

3. We are instructed how to obtain the life we need ; " Come." 



258 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

4. We learn what is the immediate cause of man's eternal destruc- 
tion. Ye will not. Zeta. 

PETER FOLLOWING AFAR OFF. 
Luke 22 : 54. 

1. Survey the marks of declension represented in the text. 

a. He felt some attachment to his Master. 

b. Peter's love was in a decaying condition. 

c. His heart was undecided and irresolute. 

2. Advert to its causes. 

a. Presumption. 

b. Shame. 

c. Fear and worldly prudence. 
a. Unbelief. 

3. Reflect on its consequences. 

a. A dreadful fall. 

b. Gross dishonor to the cause of Christ. 

c. Bitter remorse. 

Application. 

a. A word of reproof to those who do not follow Christ at all. 

b. A word of incitement to those who follow him afar off. 

c. A word of caution to those who follow him closely. 

Delta. 

FROM THE "NATIONAL PREACHER." 

A Dreadful Meeting. Isa. 47 : 3. By the Rev. Dr. H. Humphrey. 
(Vol. iv. No. 6.) 

Persuasives to Immediate Repentance. Acts 24 : 25. By the Rev. 
Dr. B. Tyler. (Vol. v. No. 6.) 

The sinner, and not the believer, deranged. Acts 26 : 24, 25. By 
the Rev. E. W. Hooker. (Vol. v.. No. 11.) 

Means of a revival of religion. Amos 7 : 2. By the Rev. Dr. Tucker. 
(Vol. vii. No. 9.) 

Alarm to the Careless. Isa. 32 : 11. By the Rev. Dr. Tucker. 
(Vol. vii. No. 9). 

A Solemn Question answered. Jer. 8:6. By the Rev. Dr. Nevins. 
(Vol. vii. No. 12.) 

Ground of the Difficulty of Conversions. Jer. 2 : 25. By the Rev. 
Mr. Dickinson. (Vol. ix. No. 3.) 

The Moral Insanity of Irreligious Men. Eccles. 9 : 3. By the Rev. 
Mr. Ide. (Vol. xv. No. 12.) 

The great Separation which Religion makes in Families. Matt. 
10 : 35. By the Rev. A. Barnes. (Vol. xvii. No. 2.) 



REVIVAL SERMONS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 259 

Fathers invited into the Ark. Gen. 7:1. By the Rev. Milton 
Badger. (Vol. xvii. No. 4.) 

Why should the work cease ? Nehemiah 6:3. By the Rev. W. B. 
Lewis. (Vol. xvii. No. 4.) 

The Tokens of Perdition. Phil. 1 : 28. By the Rev. G. B. Ide. 
(Vol. xvii. No. 6.) 

The Salvation of the Gospel great, and not to be Neglected. Heb. 
2:3. By J. M. Whiton. (Vol. xviii. No. 5.) 

The Guilt of Continued Impenitence. Matt. 11 : 21. By the Rev. 
Dr. Mark Tucker. (Vol. xviii. No. 7.) 

The Blessed Consequence of Repentance. Acts 3 : 19. (Vol. xviii. 
No. 12.) 

The Superior Glory of the Ministration of the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3 : 8. 
By the Rev. Dr. Magie. (Vol. xix. No. 1.) 

A Revival of Religion in God's Work. Ps. 119 : 126. By the Rev. 
Dr. Tucker. (Vol. xix. No. 7.) 

The Christian's Need of a Revival of Religion. Ps. 51 : 12, 13. 
By the Rev. G. A. Lintner. (Vol. xx. No. 5.) 

The withdrawal of the Spirit deprecated. Isa. 51 : n. By the Rev. 
A. D. Smith. (Vol. xxi. No. 2.) 

How long we may pray, and God not hear. Habakkuk 1 : 2. By 
the Rev. D. A. Clark. (Vol. xxi. No. 3.) 

The Fatal Tendencies of Unbelief. Heb. 3 : 18. (Ibidem.) 

The Four Lepers. 2 Kings 7 : 3. (Vol. xxi. No. 4.) 

Waiting for a Revival. Hab. 5 : 3. By the Rev. Dr. Humphrey. 
(Vol. xxi. No. 6.) 

The funeral of the Soul. Matt. 25 : 46. By the Rev. H. B. Hooker. 
(Vol. xxi. No. 12.) 

Submission to God. By the Rev. Dr. G. W. Bethune. (Vol. xxii. 
No. 1.) 

The Place and Importance of the Individual. 1 Cor. 12 : 20, 21. 
By the Rev. Albert Barnes. (Vol. xxiv. No. 14.) 

The Demands of Sinners Unreasonable. Matt. 27 : 42. By the 
Rev. S. Harris. (Vol. xxvii. No. 3.) 

To whom shall we go ? or the Church Member in doubt. John 
6 : 66-68. By the Rev. Dr. Adams. (Vol. xxvii. No. 4.) 

Climbing up some other Way. John 10 : 1. By the Rev. Emerson 
Davis. (Vol. xxvii. No. 12.) 

The Sin of Consulting with Familiar Spirits. Lev. 20 : 27. By the 
Rev. Dr. Pond. (Vol. xxviii. No. 5.) 

The Two Sides. Exodus 32 : 26. By the Rev. Dr. Magie. (Vol. 
xxviii. No. 8.) 



260 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

No Communications from the Dead to the Living. 2 Cor. 15 : 1-4. 
By the Rev. T. L. Shipman. (Vol. xxx. No. 11.) 

Escape for thy Life. Gen. 19 : 17. By the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Day. 
(Vol. xxxi. No. 5.) 

FROM "THE HOMILETIC MONTHLY.'* 

god's irreconcilable enemy. 

The carnal mind is enmity against God ; for it is not subject to the law of God, 
neither indeed can be. Rom. 8 : 7. 

i. A description of this enemy of God. 

It is the fleshly mind, the mind that serves the flesh and lives on the 
flesh. It is the lower and base nature which breeds the lusts of the 
flesh. It is the nature that binds Jiving fast to the present world, and 
refuses men any delights or hopes higher than a dinner or a dram. It 
is the " law in the membeis" warring against the " law of the mind" or 
spirit. It is the ground in human nature, out of which spring all the 
vices, shames, crimes, and sins of mankind. This mind is not at 
enmity ; it is enmity itself. It is not estranged ; it is not, and cannot 
be, subject to the law of God. That there is such a hostile force in the 
soul of man, all history, every daily newspaper, all experience proves ; 
for the disorderly and malignant spirit is continually breaking forth in 
vice, crime, and sin. It is a totally depraved spirit. 

2. Have we the carnal mind? 

Right reason will answer the question. If we behave or feel as 
loyal subjects of God ought not to behave and feel, we must have the 
carnal mind. We may also have the " mind " which Paul describes 
as approving and serving the law of God, but the carnal mind may be 
master. 

Tests. 

a. Do we do what our consciences condemn ? 

b. Do we try to reform, and fail ? 

c. God is our Father : have we a true child's love for Him ? 

d. God is dear to true men : do we love Him, love to think of Him, 
to go to Him in prayer, to be alone with Him? Is the thought of 
Him often in our minds, a refreshment and joy ? 

3. The carnal mind cannot be treated with, compromised with, or 
made an ally of. 

It must be cast out. Christ casts out devils still. Every sinner is a 
sufferer, torn and sore rent by devils of carnality ; Christ still heals 
all that are brought unto Him. He heals the patient by casting out 
the evil spirit. There is no other healing except by this deliverance 
from the carnal mind. 



REVIVAL SERMONS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 261 

THE WANT OF SPIRITUAL APPETITE. 

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be 
filled. Matt. 5: 6. 

i. Desire is a condition and a prophecy of religious attainments. 

Wanting things enough to seek them earnestly goes before getting 
them. The successful men of this world are the men who hunger 
after wealth, honor, fame, or wisdom. It is a law of even the lower 
life that an appetite goes before eating, and that the desire for a 
dinner urges men to seek it. We cannot get either the lower or the 
higher in life without wanting it. God puts spiritual attainments 
under this condition. We become righteous after and through desir- 
ing to become righteous. 

2. This law of desire explains our spiritual poverty. 

We do not want to be righteous in the fullest sense — in the high 
sense of likeness to God. We are often even afraid to be righteous, 
lest we may not prosper in life, or may have to surrender some cher- 
ished sin. If we want righteousness, as we want human love, riches, 
honor, power, fame, or wisdom, we should become " rich in faith." 

3. This want of appetite for righteousness is the curse of man- 
kind. 

The sweet blessing of Christ is for us in such small measure ! A 
little crumb suffices us. We have no true hunger. Grace has to be 
forced upon us, and is then refused by many. To be " filled " — who 
dares desire this as starving men want food, or thirsty men seek 
water? Wanting spiritual desire, we lack spiritual manhood ; lacking 
such manhood, we fall from our best estate and wander outside of the 
spiritual Eden, because we do not wish to return to its blessed life. 

AN AWFUL MISTAKE. 

Thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and 
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. 
Rev. 3 : 17. 

i. Which of these estimates is correct? 

It is a difference of judgment between God, on the one hand, and 
a Church whose faults have just been summed up in the charge that 
they are "lukewarm," " neither cold nor hot." It describes any of 
us who are content with appearances of religious or moral character, 
and have no heat of purpose or zeal. G< d must be right for three 
reasons. 

a. He knows all about us. 

b. Morals and religion, pure conduct and spiritual vitality, are too 
important to be lukewarmly preferred, or sought or lived. 

c. Great numbers of witnesses testify that, having been stimulated 



262 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

to careful self-examination, they have discovered that God's descrip- 
tion of them in their lukewarm life was awfully true. 

2. The mistake of the lukewarm carries an awful burden of conse- 
quences. 

a. It keeps him poor, wretched, blind. It shuts him out from all 
sweet sights of goodness and holiness, and leaves him empty of the 
best treasures. 

b. It sets up for our children and our neighbors a false standard of 
religion. Lukewarm people are teaching just what God denounces 
as deadliest error. 

c. The lukewarm state a great peril : "I will spew thee out of 
my mouth." 

Christ's first care was for penitents. 

Zaccheus, make haste and come down ; for to-day I must abide at thy house. 
Luke 19 : 5. 

A man who has led a well-known wicked life has difficulties to face 
in coming to Christ. None but a determined man will succeed. The 
man who is anxious to see Jesus will throw away his so-called dignity. 
He will run and climb a tree like Zaccheus. It was not curiosity that 
led him to do this. He had been deeply impressed with what he had 
heard of Christ, and he wished to know more. Christ looked lovingly 
on Zaccheus, went to dine with him, and gave him salvation. 

1. We should never be so absorbed in great things as to neglect 
little things at our side. When you are building a college don't for- 
get Lazarus. 

2. It is a comfort to know that our Lord is never too busy to meet a 
soul that really desires Him. 

3. Jericho was a city of priests, yet Jesus preferred to dine with a 
penitent publican. 

THE SINNER'S FRIEND. 
Thou gavest me no kiss. Luke 7 : 45. 

1. Defects of the life that is free from heinous and public sin, but is 
destitute of love to Christ ; honors Christ in outward forms, but re- 
fuses Him affection, and the service which love inspires. 

2. Loving Christ the proof of repentance. The conduct of the woman 
which was a sinner showed her repentance. 

3. Love to Christ is the spring of obedience. Notice the tender as- 
siduity, the all- surrendering giving of the woman. 

Exhortation : You are denying Christ the kiss of affection and the 
alabaster box of personal sacrifice for His cause. 



REVIVAL SERMONS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 263 

THE TRIBUNAL OF GOD. 

I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his 
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jer. 17 : 10. 

1. It is a searching tribunal. 

It gets all the facts, measures all the motives, studies all the cir- 
cumstances, of our ways and doings. '" The truth, the whole truth, 
and nothing but the truth," comes out only to the eye of God. 

2. We are tried and judged before this tribunal, and cannot escape 
it. 

Every man's ways and doings are put to this trial. Our fellow-men 
neither know all, nor judge of and by all. They see the shell with 
which we cover our lives : God sees all that we hide from human 
eyes. We ourselves acquit ourselves by turning away our eyes from 
the bad places, by weighing temptation on one side, and our personal 
choice on the other, in false balances. We deceive our neighbors, we 
deceive our own hearts, but we cannot escape from all- revealing trial 
by the just and wise judgment of God. 

3. The tribunal of God is final ; execution follows without appeal. 
He gives to every man according to the facts — his ways and the 

fruit of his doings. We are under law ; we are tried by Infinite 
Justice ; there is no appeal, no stay of sentence, no reprieve, no new 
trial, no revision of judgment, no interference by an executive, no 
being pardoned out in answer to the petitions of our friends. 

How careful, then, ought we to live, 

With what religious fear, 
Who such a strict account must give, 

For our behavior here ! 

FROM "THE HOMILETICAL QUARTERLY," 

January, 1880, pp. 133, 134. 
Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds ? Judges 5 : 16. (Words 
of Deborah to the tribe of Reuben.) 
We have no right to sacrifice — 

1. Duty to comfort. 

2. Duty to peace. 

3. Duty to gain. 

REVIVAL SERMONS 

Preached in New York and Brooklyn during the year 1858. * 
The Holy Flock. Ezekiel 36 : 37, 38. By the Rev. Dr. James 
W. Alexander. 

* The sermons here suggested are printed in " The New York Pulpit in the 
Revival of 1858," published by Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., 1858. 



264 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

Religious Conversation. Malachi 3 : 16. By the Rev. Rufus W. 
Clark. 

Past Feeling. Eph. 4 : 19. By the Rev. Theo. L. Cuyler. 

Why will ye die ? Ezek. 18 : 31. By the Rev. Dr. B. C. Cutler. 

The Wise Decision. Heb. 11 : 24-26. By the Rev. Dr. Edward 
Lathrop. 

Christ at the Door. Rev. 3 : 20. By the Rev. Dr. G. W. Bethune. 

Unanswered Prayer. James 4:3. By the Rev. Dr. George Potts. 

Man's Pride against God's Grace. 1 Cor. 1 : 30. By the Rev. J. 
P. Thompson. 

Tears at the Judgment. Matt. 22 : 13 : There shall be weeping." 
By the Rev. Dr. J. M. Krebs. 

True Repentance. Heb. 6:1. By the Rev. Dr. Wai. Hague. 

Seeking the Lord so as to find Him. Jer. 29 : 12, 13. By the 
Rev. Dr. Joel Parker. 

No Exempts and no Quarter in that War. Eccles. 8 : S. By the 
Rev. Dr. W. R. Williams. 

Coming to Christ. John 4 : 37. By the Rev. Dr. M. S. Hutton. 

What shall I do to be saved? Acts 16 : 30, 31. By the Rev. Dr. 
W. I. Budington. 

Men to be reconciled to God through Christ. 2 Cor. 5 : 20 (last 
clause). By the Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs. 

The Ancient Worthies our Example. Heb. 6 : 12. By the Rev. 
Dr. T. E. Vermilye. 

Incentives to seek companionship with Israel. Num. 10 : 29. 
By the Rev. Dr. J. Kennedy. 

The Cross Contemplated. Matt. 37 : 36. By the Rev. Dr. E. T. 
Hiscox. 

The Strait Gate. Luke 13 : 23, 24. By the Rev. Dr. J. McClintock. 

Man's Perdition not of God. Ezek. 18 : 23. By the Rev. Dr. E. F. 
Hatfield. 

The Duty of Repentance. Acts 17 : 30. By the Rev. Dr. Asa D. 
Smith. 

Religious Insensibility. Eph. 4 : 19. By the Rev. Dr. S. D. 
Burchard. 

Religion a Service. Matt. 7 : 21. By the Rev. Dr. R. D. Hitch- 
cock. 

The Life Battle. 1 Tim. 6 : 12. By the Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Peck. 

Not far from the Kingdom of God. Mark 12 : 2S-34. By the Rev. 
Dr. Wm. Adams. 



THE GOSPEL INVITATION, 265 

THE GOSPEL INVITATION. 

Sermons Related to the Boston Revival of 1877 [Boston, itffy). 

The Christian Believer's Burden. Rom. 9 : 1-3. By the Rev. Dr. 
E. K. Alden. 

The Old Faith and the New. Jer. 6 : 16. By the Rev. Dr. C. G. 
Lorimer. 

Learn of Me. Matt. 11 : 29. By the Rev. Dr. G. Z. Gray. 

The Separation of the Soul from God. Isa. 59 : 1-2. By the Rev. 
Dr. W. F. Mallalieu. 

The Decay of Will. Luke 15 : 18. By the Rev. S. E. Herrick. 
• Coming to One's Self. Luke 15 : 17, 18. By the Rev. Dr. A. P. 
Peabody. 

The Cry for a Cleansed Heart. Ps. 51 : 10-13. By the Rev. A. E. 
Dunning. 

God's Controversy with His People. Micah 6:3. By the Rev. 
Dr. A. H. Vinton. 

God a Consuming Fire. Heb. 12 : 20. By the Rev. A. J. Gordon. 

God Dismissed. Job 21 : 14. By the Rev. S. L. Caldwell. 

Jesus of Nazareth Passeth By. Luke 18 : 37. By the Rev. A. 
McKenzie. 

Nothing to do with Christ. Matt. 27 : 19. By the Rev. W. W. 
Newton. 

The Door Opened, and Christ within. Rev. 3 : 20. By the Rev. 
H. M. Grout. 

Faith the Source of Faithfulness. Acts 26 : 18. By the Rev. Joseph 
Cook.] 

Our Two Harvests. Gal. 6 : 7, 8. By the Rev. Dr. 'Rufus Ellis. 

The Gospel Invitation. Rev. 22 : 17. By the Rev. Dr. W. F. 
Warren.] 

The Permanence of Moral Character. No text. By the Rev. Jo- 
seph Cook. 

The Prominence of the Atonement. 1 Cor. 2:2. By the Rev. 
Dr. E. A. Park. 



266 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

OUTLINES. 

IF THOU DOEST NOT WELL, SIN LIETH AT THE DOOR. 
Gen. 4 : 7. 
As for the meaning of these and other connected words, the learned 
differ in opinion. They interpret them in one of two senses, either of 
which agrees with the analogy of the faith and is rich in practical sug- 
gestions. We intend, therefore, to examine and apply both these 
chief interpretations. 

1. According to many high authorities, the passage may be ren- 
dered, " If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou 
doest not well, sin {i.e. the punishment of sin), or s ; n personified, lies 
at the door like a ravenous beast of prey ready to seize thee. (It is 
remarkable that Dr. Julius Miiller's " Christian Doctrine of Sin" and 
Principal Tulloch's lectures on the same subject ignore this difficult 
passage.) Admitting, however, that Cain could know what sin in our 
modern sense signified, what does this Scripture from this first point 
of view teach us ? 

a. Mere reason would prefer Cain's offering as more cleanly, more 
beautiful, and more humane. 

b. Kindness to brutes is not always associated with mercy to man. 
He who made the first unbloody sacrifice was the first man of blood. 

c. Unbelief and disobedience go together. God accepted neither 
Cain nor his offering. 

d. We generally sin against God before we sin against our brother. 

e. The example of the good often makes the bad envious, and fills 
them with persecuting hate. 

f. Sin, not repented of, leads to still greater sin. 

g. Guilt pursues the guilty and drives them to despair. 

2. Or, the passage may be rendered : "If thou doest well, shalt 
thou not be accepted ? And if thou doest not well, a sin-offering 
coucheth at the door, and to thee shall he [the lamb] be subject, and 
thou shalt have rule over him." The word here rendered "sin" is 
rendered "sin-offering" in Exod. 29 : 14 ; Levit. 4 : 1-35, 6 : 17, 25, 
and elsewhere. The word translated " lieth" is often used for the 
couching of tame animals which lie on the breast with the limbs 
gathered under them like sheep. See Gen. 29 : 2 ; Isa 11 : 7, 17 : 2 ; 
Ezek. 34 : 14 ; Zeph. 2 : 14. The word which translates the Hebrew 
word "sin-offering" in the Septuagint is employed in 2 Cor. 5 : 2i t 
where Jesus is said to be made "sin" for us, i.e., a sin-offering. If 



Ml vS CELL A NEOUS. 267 

this is the true interpretation, it is one of the many instances in which 
the New Testament opens the Old.* 
Practical deductions : 

a. Every kind of professed worship of God, however pleasing and 
attractive, that is offered without faith, and its inseparable attendant, 
obedience, is sinful. 1 Sam. 15 : 22 ; Prov. 15 : 8 ; Matt. 15:9. 

b. The Father of all mercies shows us our sin, and at the same time 
shows us the only remedy for sin. 

c. The Lamb of God became obedient even to the death of the 
cross. Not more in subjection was a lamb to Cain. Let the same 
self-denying, lowly, and obedient mind be in us. Philip. 2 : 5-8. 

d. Have faith in the atoning blood of the Lamb. 

e. The same Divine Victim is ever near, at our very doors, still 
offering His life's blood to atone for our sins. 

/. The neglect of this one sacrifice may be followed by other sins, 
for which there is no forgiveness. Heb. 10 : 26, 27. 

WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT ? 
Isa. 21 : 11-12. 

The prophet in vision hears Edom asking him a question in the 
character of a watchman on a tower of Jerusalem, looking east- 
ward for the light of the morning. . . . Of the sense of this obscure 
passage of prophecy no Hebrew scholar will speak with undoubting 
certainty ; and yet, happily, one of two views has been approved by 
the most learned interpreters, either of which has weighty and close 
applications. 

1. The question and answer are by some supposed to have been 
uttered in irony and derision. If this be the correct opinion, the text 
will convey to us these lessons. 

a. Beware lest your mornings of grace be followed, not by days of 
probation, but immediately by nights of despair. This agrees with 
the history of Edom, which, between brief periods of freedom, was op- 
pressed in succession by Assyria, by Chaldea, by Persia, by Greece, 
and by Rome. 

b. Once abandoned to judicial hardness of heart, all your inquiries 
about salvation, however frequent and anxious, will be in vain. 

* The " Speaker's Commentary " in ioco, p. 54, says : " The chief objection to this 
interpretation is that there is no instance of this use of the word before the giving of the 
Law. 1 ' This objection holds equally good of the first interpretation ; for the word is 
not again employed until the giving of the Law. The primitive man was quite as 
able to understand the import of a literal sin-offering as of generic and personified 
sin. See Bishop Kip's " Unnoticed Things of Scripture." 



268 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

c. How dreadful our doom, if in our rebellion against the Almighty 
we incur His derision. 

2. The other alternative explanation is that the question is serious 
and the answer encouraging. 

a. In doubt, despondency, and fear, we do well to inquire at the 
oracle of God. 

b. We know not how short our time for inquiry is : our morning 
of youth may be followed, not by the day of middle life, but by the un- 
expected night of death. 

c. We are left to our free choice whether we will inquire or not. " If 
ye will inquire." 

d. The Lord deigns to hear and answer our questions. 

e. His offers of mercy to His worst enemies, e.g., Edom. 

f. Seek salvation in good earnest. 

g. Repent or " turn back " before nighl. 
h. Not only repent, but " come " to Zion. 

THE SMALLEST CHURCH MAY STILL BE A BEACON. 
Isa. 30 : 17. 

This originally said of Jerusalem, when almost deserted of its inhab- 
itants. 

The uses of the beacon fire : 

a. A fire kindled on the top of a mountain in time of invasion in 
order to point out to the fighting men in the darkness of night a place 
of rendezvous. 

c. A series or line of fires on mountain-tops or prominent hills to 
convey speedily important intelligence. Thus after the Captivity, the 
remnant of the Jewish nation would communicate to the exiles in 
Babylon the time of the rising of the paschal moon by beacon lights, 
beginning on Mt. Olivet, and gleaming eastward from mountain to 
mountain and hill to hill, " until they were mirrored in the Euphrates." 
Similar appear to have been the signals by which the man who led 
away the scapegoat, flashed back the intelligence to the high-priest in 
Jerusalem that the goat had been conducted to the border of the wil- 
derness. In Arabia on festive occasions beacon-fires are kept burn- 
ing in the night along the roads leading to and from the residence of 
the giver of the feast. 

Lessons : 1. As a church reduced in numbers, you may be despised ; 
and yet you are not useless. The top of a towering crag may be of 
little present interest to the mountain climber — a little space of barren 
rock showing only a few large stones stained and rent by fire. The 
coals and ashes were long ago blown or washed away. But let an in- 
vasion of the land begin, etc. You and such as you are, through grace, 



MISCELLANEOUS. 269 

of the greatest service, as great perils bear witness. Particularize the 
mission of such a church — 

a. To warn. 

b. To send good tidings. 

c. To direct along shadowed and obscure paths. 

2. " But we are not only few, but feeble. We have very few who 
can do anything," etc. Remember that a little cripple can light a 
beacon-fire on an Alpine ledge. 

3. " But we are timid and full of doubts and misgivings." Con- 
sider that you occupy a high and almost inaccessible position. The 
Almighty is your defence. 

4. Is it not time to light the beacon-fires ? Is not the enemy com- 
ing in like a flood ? 

5. Or have you not good news of salvation to flash to other beacon 
stations? Every Sunday is Easter, a holy festival in commemoration 
of the resurrection of Christ. See how the Greek Church observes 
Easter at Athens by a general lighting of torches and by the salu- 
tation, " Christ is risen !" * 

THE SUBDUING OF OUR INIQUITIES. (TO YOUNG CONVERTS.) 

Micah 7 : 19. 

To "subdue" imports in Hebrew to " tread under foot." For 
what purpose ? The first part of the text may be understood in one 
of two allowable senses. (Handle according to the alternative 
method.) 

1. That God will trample our iniquities under foot as enemies. The 
Hebrew word is used in Gen. 1 : 28, where Jehovah commands our 
first parents to subdue the earth— i.e., to bring into subjection the animal 
kingdom. According to this view, He will subdue our passions, 
appetites, our imagination, our pride, and selfishness. He promises 
also to incline and dispose our will to submit to and obey Him. 
Without the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit the 
pardon of our sins through the sacrifice of Christ would avail little to 
make us happy. A very pious educator once said, " Have we a sub- 
dued spirit ? It is precious to be and to feel subdued under God." 
Or, the text may mean : 

2. That G )d will tread our iniquities under foot — i.e., He will dis- 
regard them or refuse to resent them. The word is employed in 
Zech. g : 15 to express the trampling upon sling-stones in contempt. 

* The above sketch was composed without any knowledge that the Rev. J. Rey- 
nolds Hole, Canon of Lincoln, had about the same time (Aug., 188c) published a ser- 
mon on the same text. The latter contains some fresh illustrations of the subject. 



270 REVIVAL SERVICE, 

Comp. Job 41 : 28. The second view harmonizes with the following 
words : "And he will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." 
Agreeably to this import — 

a. God will forgive our sins in the most thorough sense : all our 
sins. He will pass them by and put them out of His sight ; He will 
throw them as far away from Him as possible ; He will forget them ; 
He will never recall His assurance of pardon. Comp. Isa. 38 : 17, 
44 : 22 ; Jer. 50 : 20 ; Ps. 103 : 12 ; Micah 7 : 18. The Almighty 
will treat His redeemed as if they had never sinned. 

Some Encouragements . 

1. We have an all-sufficient Saviour. He rescues from the power 
of sin and Satan ; from the burden of leprosy and captivity of sin ; from 
the punishment of sin. Making a total oblivion of our iniquities, he 
justifies, adopts, and glorifies us. 

2. Who is a God like him ? (v. 18). What system of idolatry, 
what false system of Christianity, can compare with the glad tidings 
of a full and free salvation ? Sin is totally destroyed. The old-time 
races of animals are not so completely swept away ; they have left 
their bones or the impressions of them in the rocks. But our sins shall 
not reappear even in the memory of God. 

HUNGERING AND THIRSTING AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS. 
Matt. 5 : 6. 
i. " The righteousness" here ardently desired. In the original 
Greek we find the article which is translated the. The righteousness 
of faith is here intended. It means — 

a. A personal righteousness, or the removal of the defilement and 
power of sin and the fulfilment of God's revealed will in our hearts, 
consciences, and conduct. 

b. But in order to this, there must be imputed to us the righteous- 
ness of Christ, whereby we through faith are formally justified, and 
through the grace of the Holy Spirit we grow in personal righteous- 
ness, both negative and positive. 

2. The hungering and thirsting here expressed. 

a. It is either preceded or attended by a sense of privation. The 
order in which this beatitude is placed is instructive. It comes after the 
beatitude to those who are " poor in spirit," to such as " mourn," and 
to as many as are "meek." These lowly conditions of privation and 
suffering are certainly good preparations for the righteousness of the 
Gospel. 

b. It involves the idea of anxious and painful desires as yet not 
satisfied. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 271 

3. The blessedness of all such. 

a. " They shall be filled ; " gradually if not quickly shall they gain 
full evidence that they are justified, that they are growing in grace, 
and that they shall at last drink to their satisfaction of the fountain of 
the water of life. Rev. 21 : 6. 

b. That Divine Spirit who created these hungerings and thirstings 
has made abundant provision to satisfy them. 

c. These hungry and thirsty ones are not without some present re- 
freshments. They have antepasts and prelibations. Already, long 
ago, Jesus pronounced them " blessed." 

THS HID TREASURE. 

Matt. 13 : 44. 

Introductory : The preciousness of free grace. 

1. The secret and individual operations of free grace. The treasure 
was twice hid. 

a. The true believer secretly finds and guards the treasure of grace. 

b. Experiences a secret joy, which ends in a purpose at any cost to 
secure the grace of salvation. 

c. He makes choice of the treasure, does not merely wish for it. 

d. He finds it ; he has not earned it. It was earned by another, 
who buried the coin. 

e. He discovers it providentially. The gracious providence of God 
in our conversion. 

f. He does not conceal because of shame or fear, but in order to 
secure. 

g. In no long time he must acknowledge and confess his great riches. 
The cherishing of secret hope is but a stage in true experience. 

h. There is a progress in joy. The joy of discovery does not equal 
the joy of possession. 

i. Suppose this man had been content to discover the treasure. 
j. How ignorant are the children of this world of the buried treas- 
ures of grace, over which they have walked a hundred times. 

THE EFFECT OF UNBELIEF. 
Matt. 13 : 58. 

1. It may limit, although it cannot prevent in any place. 

2. Although it may limit in one place, it cannot limit in all. 

3. The power of the Lord Jesus cannot be lessened, although His 
goodness and forbearance may prove fruitless. 



272 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

THE DARKENED SOUL HEARING OF AND CRYING TO JESUS OF 
NAZARETH. 
Luke 18 : 36-38. 

1. Clear apprehensions not necessary to prevailing prayer. 

2. Great gloom of mind consistent with faith. 

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE, ETC. 
Matt. 5 : 16. 

1. The light of Gospel truth and grace ought not to be concealed. 

2. We should cause this light so to shine as to lead men to glorify God, 
not praise us or admire our good works. 

3. By what means may we cause our light so to shine? 

a. By showing that the doctrines we believe, the precepts we prac- 
tise, and the examples we follow, are from the Word of God. 

b. By proving that our experiences are from the grace of God. 

c. By subjecting our hearts and conforming our conduct to the 
Christian code of morals. 

THE BACKSLIDER RETURNING. 

Ps. 119 : 59. 

1. We should think of our ways. 

2. We should turn back our feet (see the original Hebrew). 

THE POWER OF PRAYER. 
Matt. 15 : 28. 
Prayer moveth all the wheels of heaven and earth ; overcometh 
God and Satan. 

1. Prayer is a post dispatched up to the Court of Heaven. Job 
33 : 5 I Ps. 18 : 6. 

2. Prayer demands an answer as a right on the ground of His cove- 
nant and promise. Ps. 22 : 2 ; Isa. 63 : 17, 18 ; Lam. 2 : 20. 

3. It brings God into great straits and sufferings. Jer. 31 : 20. 

4. It wakes up God. Ps. 7 : 6 ; 18 : 6, 7 ; 44 : 23 ; Isa. 64 : 1. 

5. It layeth chains on God's hands and binds Him. Isa. 64 : 7 ; 
Ezek. 22 : 30. 

6. It useth a heavenly violence with God, Isa. 62 : 6, 7 ; striving, 
Rom. 15 : 30 ; wrestling, Exodus 32 : 10 ; Deut. 9 : 14. Let me 
alone, etc. Importunate widow in the parable. Luke 18 : 2-5. 

7. It commandeth God. Isa. 45 : 11 ; Ps. 32 : 15 ; 65 : 2 ; 145 : iS, 
19 ; Mark 7 : 7, 8 ; John 14 : 13, 14. 

8. It putteth the crown on Christ's head, and heighteneth the foot- 
stool of His throne; " thy Kingdom come ;" " Even so come, Lord 
Jesus." 



MISCELLA NEO US. 273 

Use r. If prayer thus prevail over God and Christ, then it can pre- 
vail against Satan and his angels. 

Use 2. You lament the want of means, etc. If you can pray, you 

can set the wheels of Omnipotence at work. Prayer divided the 

Red Sea. What a rescue was wrought by the prayers of Esther and 

her maids. Prayer opened the prison doors for Peter, Paul, and Silas. 

Samuel Rutherford (b. 1600 ; d. 1661). 

FEAR NOT ; FOR I KNOW THAT YE SEEK JESUS, ETC. 
Matt. 28 : 5. 

1. What these holy women are doing. 

a. Not merely desiring, wishing, resolving, but seeking. 

b. They seek the crucified and risen Redeemer. 

2. The angelic encouragement, " Fear not," *" I know." These 
pious women had some cause to fear. The earthquake, the angel, 
etc. How the seekers are encouraged. 

a. By removing all obstacles ; the soldiers lying on the ground as 
if dead ; the great stone rolled away ; the angel proving a messenger 
of good tidings. 

b. By removing all remaining unbelief. 

(a) Giving them a view of the vacant place in the sepulchre. 
(i3) Assurance that they should meet the risen Jesus in Galilee, 
(y) Twofold evidence of miracle and prophecy. The strength they 
derived from divine power and foreknowledge. " I know," etc. 

Application. 

a. All such as sincerely seek Jesus are already found by Him. 

b. We will then seek Him in His appointed way. 

c. To those who thus seek Him every obstacle is removed. 

d. The faith of such will- be confirmed by new evidence. 

e. Our all-knowing Lord anticipates our wants and dangers. " I 
know," etc. 

/. Almighty energy is engaged in behalf of all true seekers. 
g. Let us rejoice as these holy women did in the fact of Christ's 
resurrection. 

METHODS ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY. 
Luke 5 : 18-20. 
This miracle, so uncommon in its methods and surroundings, re- 
garded as an acted parable. The principle here suggested is that perish- 
ing souls should, if necessary, be brought to Jesus, the Saviour, by ir- 
regular and out-of-the-way methods. 

1. This principle is reasonable and practical. 



274 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

a. It is acted on in secular affairs. If one kind of business does not 
prosper, men try some other, perhaps before unheard of. In war, e.g. 
soldiers let down in baskets before the mouth of the cave. In the 
siege of Tambi, an African town,* the Portuguese were repulsed by 
hives of bees thrown over the walls. 

b. In religious transactions, e.g. the victory over Sisera ; Paul let 
down over the wall in a basket ; Peter smitten on the side by an 
angel. 

c. The atonement of Christ was a remedial expedient without a 
parallel — an interposition. 

2. But while this is admitted, we are not hence to infer that the 
ordinary means and methods of grace are to be neglected or despised. 
These are of the first importance ; the regular is ever more val- 
uable than the occasional and exceptional. 

3. Lessons. 

a Do not make too much of religious ceremonies, observances, and 
usages. 

b. As Jesus does not always walk our ways, we must seek Him 
whenever and wherever we can find Him. 

c. To seek salvation is ever opportune. In this case the Great 
Teacher's sermon was interrupted. He brings a funeral procession 
to a stand-still in order to raise the dead. While Peter was speaking 
at Caesarea the Holy Spirit fell on the hearers, and they began to 
magnify God. Acts 10 : 44-46. 

d. Ordinary means will not be employed by all. 

e. The regular and common services of the Lord's house sometimes 
become a hindrance rather than a help to the inquirer. In this in- 
stance the audience blocked up the doorways, etc. 

f. A certain unity, however, is desirable in such proceedings. Here 
four men chose to co-operate. 

g. Redeem time wasted. Perhaps these men had neglected a better 
opportunity. 

h. No time to be lost now. They do not wait for the congregation 
to break up. 

i. Christian laborers, rest not at any stage in your progress. Not 
in the way to the house, not at the door, not on the roof. 
j. The ingenuit)' of true benevolence and compassion ! 

k. The rescue of others depends on the faith of the workers. " He 
seeing their faith." Not a word said. Here work was the prayer of 
faith. 

/. Greater blessings found than were sought. Sins forgiven. 

* See a Dutch book on Old Age and Country Life, by Jacob Caats, 



MISCEL LA NE O US. 275 

in. Possibly one or more of these hearers had himself been healed. 
He felt that he was in gratitude bound, etc. 

n. What if they had said to the paralytic, "You have violated 
some natural law, and now you must take the necessary consequences ? 
Neither God nor man can do anything to cure you." * 

THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL EXERTION IN SEEKING THE CONVER- 
SION OF SINNERS. 
John 4 : 5-9. 

Many awakened sinners complain that no one had spoken to them 
privately about their religious interests. They ought rather to com- 
plain of their own insensibility in not having been moved by any of 
the hundreds of sermons which were publicly addressed to them ; in 
giving no heed to the invitations and warnings to be found through- 
out their own Bibles ; in not hearkening to the testimony God gives of 
Himself in Creation and Providence. But still, the example of our 
Saviour and His first disciples, no less than the conduct of all winners 
of souls in times of awakening, encourage personal interviews; facts 
also without number prove that the Master blesses this kind of service. 
... It is also worthy of attention that it was our Lord's freedom from 
prejudice in respect of a secular matter which prompted the woman of 
Samaria to commence religious talk, and that it was she and not He, 
that introduced the subject. Our success in Christian interviews de- 
pends much on the spirit we manifest in (he common affairs of life. 
See " Christian Effort," by Sarah Baker: Methodist Book Concern, 
N. Y., 1852 ; " His Own Brother," a sermon on John 1 : 41, by Mr. 
Moody ; also " The Conversion of Sinners a Christian Duty," Jas. 5 : 
19, 20, a sermon by Mr. Finney. 

THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 
John 4 : 28, 29. 

Upon the text and its connection we shall make the following plain 
observations : 

1. That Jesus Christ is possessed of the greatest excellences. We 
shall confine ourselves to those illustrated in His conversation with the 
woman of Samaria. 

a. Profound humility. Though He was rich in the glories of His 
divine nature, He humbled Himself and became a man, and so as not to 
be above holding conversation with a poor woman at a well. Let 
proud mortals contemplate this and be ashamed. 

b. Consummate wisdom. He knew where to find this woman ; He 

* Some few young preachers may possibly need to be told that these lessons are 
too numerous for a single sermon. 



276 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

knew all her circumstances, and what kind of words to address to 
her. 

c. Ardent benevolence. He exerted Himself for the instruction and 
conversion of this poor woman. 

2. That those who are able to discover His excellences feel an at- 
tachment to Him. 

The affection of the soul which has by faith contemplated and dis- 
covered the excellences of Christ, is — 

a. Reasonable or rational. 

b. Fervent 

c. Influential. 

3. That those who really love Him are anxious to recommend Him 
to others — 

a. By earnest entreaty. 

b. By bringing them under the sound of the Gospel. 

c. By prayer to God for them. 

d. By a holy life. 

Improvement. 

a. We see that there is no worthiness in the instrument employed 
in the conversion of a sinner. The Samaritan woman was useful in 
directing others to Christ. 

b. This subject affords a test whereby we may try our characters. 

c. Are there here any desirous to see Jesus ? 

Rev. Thomas Spencer. 

then were the disciples glad when they saw the lord. 

John 20 : 20. 

i. We are disciples of the same Saviour. 

a. A renunciation of all other moral teachers. 

b. We must spiritually forsake the world. 

c We must dedicate ourselves to the service of Christ. 

2. It is the privilege of disciples to see the Lord. 

a. How do we now see Christ? By a believing realization. 

b. Where do we see Christ ? 

c. What are the evidences of having seen Chiist. 

3. A sight of Christ is always gladdening to the souls of His people. 

a. See it in the accepted penitent. 

b. See it in the spiritual worshipper. 

c. See it in the afflicted Christian. 
I. See it in the dying saint. 

c. See it the beatified glory. 



M ISC ELL A NE O US. 277 

Application. 

a. Have you ever had a believing view of Jesus Christ? 

b. A sight of Christ leads to still greater desires after Him. 

c. Men do not know the excellences of Christ. 

d. A sight of Christ at the last day will be terrible to his enemies. 

Anonymous, 
a resurrection to righteousness the greatest need. 

1 Cor. 15 : 34. 

This exhortation is made in the midst of the Gospel revelation as to 
the great doctrine of the resurrection, in making known to us for the 
first time in the history of the world many wonderful facts concerning 
the general resurrection. The Holy Spirit, ever mindful of our salva- 
tion from sin, breaks off for a moment the doctrinal discourse to call 
on us to awake to righteousness. 

a. The question of our personal righteousness here more important 
than that of our resurrection on the last day. 

b. The knowledge of God connected with holy living. 

c. To be ignorant of God's righteousness is shameful. 

d. Personal righteousness one of the ends of a true awakening. 

e. It is the first proof of the coming of the new kingdom into our 
hearts. Rom. 14 : 17. 

THE LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER (CHILD-LEADER) TO BRING US 

UNTO CHRIST. 

Gal. 3 : 24. 

The word here rendered "schoolmaster" is in the Greek paida- 

gogos, "child-leader," a slave or servant who had charge of boys on 

their way to and from school. He was also a guardian of the school boys 

in the time of waiting and recreation, and responsible for their safety 

and good behavior. Here the law is the child-leader conducting 

pupils to school, and shutting them up until Christ, who is the didascalos 

or teacher, shall come and instruct them. See v. 23. 

1. The law and conscience convict and condemn, and so shut us up 
to wait for Jesus, who teaches us how to be justified by faith in Him 
Verse 23. 

2. The doctrine of natural laws, on the contrary, with their unavoid- 
able penalties, knowing no priest, no prophet, no sacrifice, no inter- 
position to save the transgressor, leads us to the school of Satan and 
shuts us up there. This is " the school of Tyrannus" (Acts 19 : 9), 
the scene of the severest discipline and most hopeless toil and suffer- 
ing ; whither no apostle daily comes to preach the love of Christ in 
atoning for our sins. 



278 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

3. The conscience, without faith, leads to despair ; with faith it 
leads to Jesus, the soul's only light and hope and joy. 

THE FULNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OVERFLOWING IN PRAISE AND 
THANKSGIVING. 

Eph. 5 : 18-20. 

The state here mentioned is not unlike that of those who were " en- 
dued with power from on high" (Luke 24: 49), and "baptized with 
the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 3 : 11 ; Acts 1 : 5). The miraculous gifts, as 
speaking foreign languages, etc., were withheld as soon as they ceased 
to be needed as signs and evidences, but prophesying was retained be- 
cause it built up the church. The meaning of this word in the primi- 
tive church appears to have included sacred song. Prophesying on 
the day of Pentecost seems to have chiefly consisted of praising God 
or "speaking the wonderful works of God (compare Acts 10: 46; 
Luke 1 : 46). By comparing Acts 10 : 46, and Tg, 6, we find " prais- 
ing God " put in the place of prophesying. Again, " a psalm," in 
1 Cor. 14 : 26, is placed where we find " prophesying " in 1 Cor. 12 : 
28 ; 13 : 27 ; 14 : 7. And this elucidates 1 Cor. 11 : 5, where a woman 
is mentioned as prophesying. As the singing of hymns and psalms was 
ever permitted to women, they could share their part of the public ser- 
vice of God. This also explains how the four daughters of Philip could 
be said to prophesy (Acts 21 : 9). " Being filled with the Holy Spirit" 
is perhaps a figure called synecdoche, by which a part of what is in- 
tended is expressed. Running over with would, we think, express the 
idea more exactly, although not more popularly. It was probably al- 
luded to by our Lord on the last day of the feast of Tabernacles, where 
he compares the " belly" of a believer to the belly of the golden 
vessel in which the priest carried the sacred water from the spring of 
Siloam into the fore-court of the temple (John 7 : 38, 39). 

This state is not a necessary attendant either of regeneration or of 
sanctification. The apostles were for the most part regenerate before 
the day of Pentecost. 

It is not the only cause of great joy and rejoicing. The disciples 
returned from the scene of the Ascension to Jerusalem "with great 
joy." 

Nor is full assurance of faith always one of the fruits of this pleni- 
tude of the Spirit. 

It is different from the permanent presence of the Spirit, though it is 
not incompatible with the latter. 

It is often attributed to those primitive disciples who are moved by 
it to speak or act with promptness, power, and good effect. 



MISCELLANEO US. 279 

In the text, as in some other Scriptures, it finds an overflowing 
voice in praise and thanksgiving to God. 

Lesson 1 — a. The plenitude of the Holy Spirit manifests itself not 
in a life of contemplation, but in worship and Christian work. 

b. It inspires forgetful ness of ourselves and our adoring and great- 
ful remembrance of God. The tongues of fire flamed heavenward. 

A SERMON FOR YOUNG CONVERTS. 

DOING ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. 
Colos. 3 : 17. 
What is meant by the phrase "in the name of?" It has various 
significations, which are to be determined by the connection. The 
text is comprehensive, taking in all Christian duties : " whatever ye 
do in word or deed." Here the sense may embrace Christ Himself in 
all His offices and powers. 

1. Prayt r and thanksgiving aie offered in the name of Jesus when 
we exercise faith in Jesus as our Intercessor at the right hand of the 
Father and in the Holy Spirit as sent by Him from the Father (John 
16 : 24, 26 ; Eph. 5 : 20). This involves " praying in the Holy Ghost" 
(Jude 20), and the intercession of the Spirit (Rom. 8 : 26, 27). This is a 
light additional to that which the Lord's Prayer gives. In the use of 
this pray* r we do not ask anything in Christ's name. 

2. In our works of beneficence we act in the name of Christ when 
we give to others as if we were giving to Him (Matt. 25 : 40), because 
the receivers belong to Christ (Mark 11 : 41) in obedience to Christ 
(Matt. 10 : 8 ; 2 John 6), with the hope of sharing His reward (Heb. 
11 : 24 ; 12 : 2, etc). The Golden Rule we are to apply as enlightened 
Christians. " Whatsoever ye would " (i.e. the disciples). 

3. In acts of self-denial we recognize the name of Jesus when we are 
willing, if necessary, to become poor in imitation of the Lord of Glory 
(2 Cor. 8 : 9) ; to sacrifice ourselves for the good of our brethren ac- 
cording to the new command. 

4. While toiling, praying, and suffering for the salvation of men, we 
are to look to the power 01 Christ for guidance, support, and success. 
The word " name," sometimes in the Old Testament as well as the 
New Testament, signifies force or efficacious power (2 Chron. 14 : 11 ; 
Ps. 52 : g ; 54 : 1 ; Isa. 64 : 2 ; Acts 3 : 12, 16 ; 4.: 7 ; Matt. 7 : 22). 
Hence the Holy Spirit is sent from God the Father through Jesus to 
take the place of the latter, and to exert the same gracious power. 
It is this import that the word " name" is employed twice in Philip. 
2 : 9-11. [To convey the idea of authority, another Greek word is al- 
ways used— exousia.~\ 



280 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

5. Whatever we do "in the name of Christ " " must be done in the 
exercise of faith in that power" (Acts 3 : 16 ; 14 : 9 ; John 20 : 31), " that 
believing ye might bear life in His name." 

6. If we would obey the injunction in the text we must likewise 
acknowledge that it is in this power that everything is to be said, done, 
and suffered. We are to profess our faith in the divine energy exerted 
for us and in us (Col. 2 : 2 ; 2 Tim. 2 : 25 ; Philemon 6 ; Rev. 2 : 12). 

Our time does not permit us to do more than glance at some princi- 
pal branches of this duty, which should attend every other. 

Application. 

a. Our conversion brings us into a new sphere and element. We 
live, walk, pray in the Holy Spirit, who prompts us to refer everything 
to Christ. 

b. Fully to discharge this duty we need the continual presence of 
the Spirit, forming in us right habits of heart and mind. We ought 
perpetually to consult the oracles of God, to meditate much, and to be 
vigilant. 

c. To do all things in the name of Christ is to renounce all power 
of our own, and to be prevented from thinking too highly of our expe- 
rience and service. 

d If you do all things in the name of Jesus, you will not fail to do 
all things for His glory. 

THE SAVIOUR SEEKING ADMISSION TO THE HEART. 
Behold I stand at the door and knock. Rev. 3 : 20. 
These words were addressed to each member of one of the primitive 
churches. 

1. The relation of Jesus to some church-members. 

a. To some He is as a stranger. 

b. To others He is as a neighbor. 

c. To some He is as a boarder. 

d. To others He is as a visitor or guest. 

e. He ought to be to every heart as an elder brother, who is also the 
greatest of benefactors. 

f. With every member of a church He ought to be on such terms of 
love and intimacy that He need not knock when He walks in. 

2. If Jesus returned to the church of Laodicea, He returned to them 
as individuals. " If any man," etc. The same is true to-day. 

a. At each church-member's door He stands, knocks, speaks. 

b. To each one is the promise of gracious intimacy made. 

c. If any man refuse to answer to the call of the Saviour, he must 
suffer the consequences. 



MISCELLA NEOUS. 281 

d. Do not inquire, " Are my brethren opening the door?" the ques- 
tion is, '.' Am I ? ' 

HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES. 
Rev. 3 : 22. 

This admonition repeated more than once. 

1. How does the Divine Spirit now speak to churches ? 

a. By the Scriptures read or preached. 

b. By the works of creation and Providence. 

c. By His most important operations in regeneration and sanctifica- 
tion. 

d. By the symbolical teachings of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. 

2. How did the Spirit speak to the seven churches of Asia. 

a. By the written word, not .the oral, which had become more or 
less corrupt. 

b. The matter of these letters was chiefly warning and encourage- 
ment. 

c. The churches of to-day have similar faults and dangers to con- 
sider. 

d. The primitive churches of Asia had not ears to hear ; will the 
churches of to-day hearken ? 

THEMES FOR REFORMS. 

THE NECESSITY OF REFORMS. 
The emblem of the ephah. Zech. 5 : 5-1 1. 

According to the previous vision (that of the Flying Roll) .the judg- 
ment of God would destroy those who were guilty of perjury and theft. 
A transgression is taken as a sample from both tables of the law. In the 
text idolatry and sorcery are seen departing from the land. The word 
"wickedness," literally the wickedness or the wicked woman, is sup- 
posed to allude to Athaliah, the daughter of Jezebel, 2 Chron. 24 : 7, or 
to Jezebel herself, Rev. 2 : 20, as the national type ; idolatry and 
sorcery, 2 Kings 9 : 22, 34. 

The prophecy was first fulfilled in the attempted suppression of 
these vices, their increase in consequence of coercion, and their ultimate 
departure, further increase and establishment in Babylon. Its second 
and often-repeated fulfilment has been shown in exertions for the re- 
moval of the vices which proceed from covetousness and underhand 
dealings, sensuality, and witchcraft, with all their criminal brood. 

Lesson : a. To limit and so to license crime is only to establish it in 
all the land. The ephah was the largest dry measure. The exhibi- 
tion of the restricting bushel causes no alarm. 



282 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

b. Hearken to no compromises aiming at a partial suppression of 
vice or an avoidance of its publicity, profanity, and sauciness. Some 
expositors suppose that the weight of lead was cast merely on the 
mouth of the woman, but it was cast on the mouth of the ephah, and 
so at once silencing the advocate of vice and putting a stop to the 
traffic in wickedness. 

c. The legal and forcible suppression of vice in a community will 
at first occasion its seeming increase. The temporary imprisonment of 
one woman in the ephah is followed by the uprising of two other 
women to be the helpers of the first, while wings are given to both. 

d. When a community or the churches therein will employ all the 
spiritual and evangelical means at their command, vice will voluntarily 
rise and depart to a more congenial place. It will fly away on broad 
and powerful pinions. The Holy Spirit, that like a refreshing wind 
blesses the churches, will at the same time waft it away ; " The wind 
was in their wings." He will distinguish and separate. 

e. Let the churches flee all conni ranee and complicity with vice, and 
drive it away to the mystical Babylon for refuge and protection. 

f. Any church or any community that guards and fosters vice is 
destined to share the doom of Babylon. 

SELF-WROUGHT REFORMS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES. 
Luke ii • 24-26. 

1. They lead to self-righteousness. 

2. And self-righteousness leads back to worse iniquities, 

THE BRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE FIRE. 
Zech. 2 : 3. 

1. Saved from destruction. 

2. Reserved for better use. 

3. Yet bears the scars of fire. 

4. More liable to take fire again than wood not charred. 

5. But still we hope that He who who has plucked it out will not 
throw it back. 

6. It is implied that there is a fire, and that some fuel remains in it. 

7. We should try and help pluck out other brands before it is too 
late. 

SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITY. "WHAT IS THAT TO US? SEE THOU TO 

THAT." 

Matt. 27 : 4. (Rev. S. Baring-Gould.) 



MISCELLA NEO US. 2 8$ 

THE RIGHT USE OF THE LOT. 

Prov. 18 : 18. 

The profanation of the lot is very scriptually discussed in the works 
of the Rev. Dr. John M. Mason. 

READINGS ON THE NATURE AND REWARDS OF OVERCOMING. 

The doctrine of victory is taught most fully by the apostle John. 
i. Victors over whom or what? Victors over Satan, the world, 
Babylon, and the Beast. I John 2 : 13, 14 ; Rev. 17 : 14. 

2. We overcome through Christ. John 16 : 32 ; Rev. 5:556:2; 
17 : 14. 

3. Through faith in His blood. 1 John 5 : 4, 5 ; Rev. 12 : 11. 

4. The personal character of the victors. Born of God. 1 John 5: 4. 
Called chosen and faithful. Rev. 17 : 14. Compare Rev. 2 : 10, 
6 : 29. 

5. Piomises to the victors. Rev. 2:7; 10-11, 17, 26-28 ; 3 : 4, 5, 
11, 12, 20, 21 ; 15 : 2-4 ; 21 : 7. 

TEMPERANCE THEMES FOR REVIVAL SERVICES. 

THE EXTENT OF THE PLAGUE OF INTEMPERANCE ILLUSTRATED. 
Rev. 8 : io, n. 

The interpretation of this part of the Revelation is still unsettled. 
The best expositors think that by the great star falling irom heaven, 
Gregory the Great, or Pelagius, or Arius is symbolized, while the em- 
bittering of the waters of the fountains and rivers represents the 
poisoning of the grace and truth of the Gospel to such a degree as to 
cause the moral death of a third part of those who partake of them. 
We now employ these words solely as an illustration. The late 
Dean Alford, in his comment on them, uses the following language : 
" It is hardly possible to read this third plague and not to think of the 
deadly effect of those strong spirituous drinks, which are in fact 
water turned into poison. The very name absinthe is not unknown 
in their nomenclature ; and there is no effect which could be so aptly 
described by the falling of fire into water, as this, which results in 
ardent spirit — or that which the simple islanders of the South Sea call 
firewater. That this plague may go on to destroy even this fearful 
proportion of the ungodly in the latter days is far from impossible, 
considering its prevalence even now. . . . But I mention this rather 
as an illustration than as an interpretation." 

Temporal evils of intemperance. Prov. 23 : 29-35. 

The eternal destiny of the drunkard. 1 Cor. 6 : 10. 



284 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The effects of intemperance on the heart and conscience. Isa. 
5 : 12. 

On the evils and remedy for intemperance. Sermons by the Rev. 
Lyman Beecher on Hab. 2 : 9, 11, and 15, 16. 

Am I my brother's keeper ? Gen. 4 : g. 

THEMES AND OUTLINES CONCERNING SPIRITUALISM. 

For a series of sermons preparatory to a revival in communities UbJure 
Spiritualism prevails. 

I. THE TRUE GOD CONCEALS AS WELL AS REVEALS. 
Prov. 25 : 2. 

II. THE REVEALED THINGS OF GOD HAVE OBEDIENCE TO HIM FOR 

THEIR END. 
Deut. 29 : 29. 

III. A SPECULATIVE OR HISTORICAL BELIEF IN IMMORTALITY DOES 

NOT IMPROVE THE HEART AND LIFE. 
Acts 23 : 8. 

[The Sadiucees denied the existence of both angels and spirits, and 
yet were not so deadly enemies of Christ as the Pharisees were.] 

IV. THE WITCH OF ENDOR. 
1 Sam. 28 : 6, 7. 

V. THE WONDERS WROUGHT THROUGH SPIRITUALISTS ARE NOT EQUAL 

TO THOSE WROUGHT BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

2 Tim. 3 : 8. 

[Jannes and Jambres, aided by Satan, wrought marvellous works ; 

but they were outdone by Moses, who was assisted by the Almighty. 

Spiritualists must raise the dead before the followers of Christ can 

leave Him and go over to their company.] 

VI. SIMON, THE SORCERER DECEIVING HIMSELF AND THE APOSTLES. 

Acts 8 : 22, 23. 

1. Simon honestly conceded that the power of the Holy Spirit was 
greater than any that he could invoke. 

2. Yet he totally misunderstood the religion of Christ. 

3. Not beyond repentance and forgiveness. 

4. He was not too wicked to pray (v. 22). 

5. The reason why we hear nothing further about him is, perhaps, 
his unwillingness to pray for himself, and his exclusive reliance on the 
prayers of the apostles (v. 24). For traditions, see Bible Dictionaries. 



MISCELLANE US. 285 

VII. SPIRITUALISTS SIN IN CONSULTING THE CREATURE MORE THAN 

THE CREATOR. 

Rom. 1 : 25. 

VIII. BY HONORING NOT THE SON, THEY HONOR NOT THE FATHER. 

John 5 : 23. 

IX. THE SCRIPTURES THE ONLY STANDARD OF DOCTRINE, EXPERI- 
ENCE, AND DUTY. 
Isa. 8 : ig, 20. 
X. THE DEMORALIZING INFLUENCE OF SPIRITUALISM. 
John 8 : 48, 49. 

"Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon." The Jews seem to 
have associated a demoniac inspiration with Samaria. If we turn 
to Acts 8, we observe how generally, " from the least to the greatest," 
the Samaritans gave heed to Simon the sorcerer. The colonists from 
various parts of Babylonia, who repeopled the cities of Samaria, did 
not supplant the peasantry scattered all over the land, who had derived 
from Egypt through Jeroboam, and from Tyre through Jezebel, the 
witchcraft which was believed and practised there in the time of Christ 
and the Apostles. See articles on " Magic," " Demon," and " Divina- 
tion" in Smith's Bib. Die. ; also Abp. Trench on the Miracles, " De- 
moniacs in Gadara," chap. 5. 

As for the moral character of the Samaritans, all authorities agree 
that it was no better than that of the Gentiles. 

XI. SPIRITUALISM HAS NOTHING THAT EQUALS CHRISTIAN LOVE. 

1 Cor. 13 : 1. 

1. Christian love in its sources. 1 Tim. 1 : 5. 

2. Its works as seen — 

a. In hospitals, asylums, reformatories, missions, Bible and tract 
societies. 

b. In family and social life. 

3. Admitting that Spiritualism can perform ail the wonders of which 
it boasts, it is nothing without Christian love. 

4. Has it any equivalent for this ? No. 

XII. IF THE WORD OF GOD FAILS TO PERSUADE MEN TO REPENT, 
THE VISITS OF DEPARTED SPIRITS WILL EQUALLY FAIL. 

Luke 16 : 31. 

XIII. CHRIST HEALS THE BROKEN HEART ; THIS SPIRITUALISM 

CANNOT DO. 

Like 4 : 18. 



286 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

XIV. CHRISTIANS IN THEIR PERPLEXITIES HAVE THE GUIDANCE OF 

THE ALL-KNOWING ONE. 

Prov. 3 : 6. 

XV. CHRISTIANS ENJOY THE SERVICES OF ANGELS, WHO ARE- 
SUPERIOR TO US.* 
Heb. i : 14. 

XVI. THE DIVINE SPIRIT IS PROMISED TO US AS A GUIDE INTO ALL 

THE TRUTH. 

The truth i e. respecting the gospel (see original Greek). John 16 : 13. 

OUTLINES ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. 

AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED ON THE FACE OF THE WATERS. 
Gen. 1 : 2. 

1. The Holy Spirit begins His work amidst disorder and darkness. 

2. There is no movement toward a new creation before the Spirit of 
the Lord begins to move. 

AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHT, ETC. 
Gen. 1 : 3, 4. 

1. The Holy Spirit moves before God speaks. 

2. God speaks before the dawn of the first day. 

3. The first day dawns before the limits of night are fixed. 

WHILE HE LINGERED, THE MEN LAID HOLD UPON HIS HAND. 
Gen. 19 : 16. (Sermon on the departure of Lot, by Rev. M. Grafton.) 

1. The believer, while dwelling in the world of iniquity, is exposed 
to danger. 

2. Examples of rescue to such as have lingered : Moses, David, 
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul. 

3. In death angels remove us beyond the city. 

AND THE CUP WAS FOUND IN BENJAMIN'S SACK. 
Gen. 44 : 12. 
This text is used by wav of illustration to teach how Satan artfully 
introduces groundless doubts and fears into the minds of men. 

1. How Satan sometimes troubles and alarms true believers. 

2. How he often seeks to drive convicted sinners to despair. 

3. Christ Jesus affords the only hope in this conflict with the prince 
of darkness. 

* One of the best preventives of and antidotes to Spiritualism is the preaching of 
the Scripture doctrine concerning angels. 



MIS CELL A NE OUS. 287 

LET THINE EYES BE ON THE FIELD THAT THEY DO REAP. 
Ruth 2 : g. (The advantages of relating facts concerning former revivals.) 

i. See the love of God. 

2. The grace of Christ. 

3. The work of the Spirit. 

4. The fruit of faith. 

5. Answers to prayers and exertions. 

6. Gather the scattered stalks of wheat. 

7. Share the food of the reapers. 

A PRESENT SALVATION. 
Num. 13 : 30. (From Sermons by Rev. Joseph Sutcliffe.) 

i. The children of Israel could not enter the Land of Promise until 
they were proved in respect of self-will and obedience. 

2. They were to expect immediate victory. 

a. The atonement is already made. 

b. Regeneration is instantaneous. 

c. The Holy Spirit present. 

d. Christ intercedes. 

e. Progress in sanctification not to be denied. To enter Canaan, one 
thing ; to possess it all, another. 

3. Unbelievers are disheartened by appearances. 

4. These unbelieving and timid Israelites did not reach the Land of 
Promise. 

5. Let the example God here makes of unbelieving fathers be a 
warning to their children. Jehovah has to punish fathers in order to 
save their children. 

, CHILDREN OUGHT NOT TO BE NEGLECTED ON ACCOUNT OF THE 
BACKSLIDINGS OF THEIR PARENTS. 

Num. 14 : 28-31. 

The predictions of murmurers do not often come to pass, even in 
part. 

1. Disobedience in, unfaithfulness and discord in a church should 
not keep us from seeking the salvation of the young. 

2. Important as an awakening in the church is, yet it is not abso- 
lutely necessary to the conversion of the young. 

3. Such is the declension of piety in some churches, that our chief 
encouragement is that the children of their members may be con- 
verted. 



288 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

MEN OF PUBLIC SPIRIT OFTEN MORE CAREFUL OF THEIR HONOR 

THAN FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST. 

2 Sam. 6 : 20-23. 

[The reproachful words of Michal were probably not according to 
truth. David still wore his dress of fine linen and an ephod. His 
uncovering himself was only the divesting himself of the royal robe 
and crown.- Michal was wrong and David was right, as the event 
proved.] 

Let the example of David reprove those public men who fear that if 
they be zealous fur the religion of Christ, they will expose themselves 
to derision and contempt. 

THE SEVEN SNEEZES. 
The child sneezed seven times. 2 Kings 4 : 34. 

1. The first clear evidence that the child was restored to life. 

a. The evidence very simple. The first tear of penitence. We 
ought not to expect too much from inquirers. The first signs of new 
life ought to encourage us. 

b. This evidence of life was in itself unpleasant. To the child it 
was no pleasure to sneeze. To those who heard the sneeze, it was 
not very musical. Repentance is not an agreeable exercise, either to 
its subjects or to their friends who witness. The evidences of life 
were very monotonous. "The child sneezed seven times." Much 
of the talk of inquirers is very wearisome. 

2. It was a sure evidence. It was evidence of life. Give us proof 
that a soul has passed from death to life, and we rejoice. We must 
have indisputable marks of grace. 

Conclusion : The more watched the better. This service requires 
graces rather than gifts. Be ready to take care of the newly quick- 
ened one. Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon. 

AN ANCIENT REVIVAL. 

And when Asa heard these words And the Lord gave them rest round about. 

2 Chron. 15 : 8-15. 

1. The heart of a revival is the renewal of the covenant with God 
(v. 12). 

2. The public proclamation of a revival faith before the world 
(v. 14). 

3. It was attended with a great coming in of converts from without 
(v. 9). 

4. Thorough reformation of public and private morals (v. 8). 

5. Often such awakenings are followed by periods of temporal pros- 
perity (v. 15). Rev. Dr. Austin Phelps. 



M ISC EL LA NE OUS. 289 

CURSE YE MEROZ, ETC. 
Judges 5 : 23. 

[Meroz was probably a city somewhere within the territory of Zeb- 
ulun and Naphtali that neglected to send its contingent or quota of 
wairiors against Sisera. Some suppose that the inhabitants of Meroz 
incurred a curse because, being near the field of battle, they did not 
join in pursuit of the flying enemy.] 

1. All are not equally bound to active service in a work of grace. 
Two tribes here exclusively engaged in the battle. Of other tribes, 
Reuben, Gilead, Dan, and Asher receive reproachful mention, while 
the other tribes escape all censure. 

2. The duties of private life form no sufficient apology for neglecting 
the public service of God. Reuben took good care of his flocks. 

3. Beware of delay. The Reubenites had "great searching? of 
heart ;•" they inquired, reflected, and deliberated until it was too late. 

4. Guard against mere neglect. The crime of Meroz was one of 
omission. 

SERMON FOR BEGINNING OF A REVIVAL. 
Ps. 132 : 9. 

1. The nature of the priesthood of all true Christians. 

2. The righteousness of the Lord Jesus is imputed to them. 

3. Let them be clothed with this. 

4. Let them shout for joy. 

SERMON FOR THE FEAST OF INGATHERING. 
Ps. 132 : 16. 

1. The relation of imputed righteousness to salvation. 

2. This righteousness and this salvation are alike from the Lord. 

3. The saving presence of the Lord is the joy of His disciples. 

THE SOUL FLYING AS A BIRD. 
Ps. 11: 1. 

Alternative senses : 

1. Some high authorities would render the words, " Flee from 
your mountain." In this view it is regarded as the advice of the 
enemies of David to induce him to forsake his trust in the Lord and 
wander from trust to trust. 

2. Others consider the words as signifying, " Flee as a bird to your 
place of greater security." In this sense it becomes the counsel of 
David's friends. 

According to the first interpretation, we have a warning to all such 
as do not put their trust in the Lord. They are doo med, as Luther 
and Calvin teach us, to go from one refuge to another as a bird flying 



290 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

from one mountain covert to another, but finding no rest anywhere. 
Agreeably to the second apprehension of the sense, we are exhorted 
to make the Lord Jesus our only refuge, and to ask ourselves whether 
we are in earnest search of His salvation and protection. 

AWAKE, O NORTH WIND, AND COME, THOU SOUTH. 
Canticles 4 : 16. 

1. The Holy Spirit as producing a divine light. 

2. A divine warmth. 

3. The joint agency of both at work in the soul. 

WHEN JESUS DOES NOT APPEAR FOR THE HELP OF THE CHURCH, LET 
HER NOT BE IMPATIENT AND HASTY. 

Canticles 8 : 4. 

These words repeated three times — 2 : 7, 3 : 5. 

1. Christ has an appointed time for coming to bless the Church. 

2. He only knows what preparations are to be made by the Spirit 
and by Providence. 

Application. 

a. Let the Church show forbearance toward the weak, the back- 
slidden, and the lukewarm. 

b. Let her beware of unseasonable importunity to Christ. 

c. Let her beware of impatiently forestalling the Lord. 

d. Shows unbelief. Isa. 28 : 16. 

THE LORD'S TENDER CARE OF YOUNG CONVERTS. 

He shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom. Isa. 40 : n 
(compare verses 12, 15). 

The Good Shepherd lifts the lambs to a place of security in His arms, 
and carries them near His heart. They are more precious to Him 
than all the rest of His works. 

a. They are near His heart while seas, lakes, and rivers He keeps 
at arm's length, measuring their waters in the hollow of His hand. 

b. They are next to His heart while the dome of heaven He keeps 
at his finger's ends, meting it out with the span. 

c. While all the earth beneath us He comprehends in a measure. 

d. While the hills and mountains He weighs in scales. 

e. While He takes up the islands as a very little thing. 

f. While all nations are in comparison as the drop of a bucket or 
the small dust of the balance. Fev. Samuel Almax. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 291 

SHALL THE LAWFUL CAPTIVE BE DELIVERED ? 
Isa. 49 : 25. 

1. Satan holds unregenerate souls in captivity. 

2. Christ Jesus came to deliver them. 

OUR BONDAGE AND REDEMPTION. 

Isa. 52: 3. |t 

i. We have sold ourselves ; Jesus offers to redeem us. 

2. We have sold ourselves for nought ; He offers to redeem us 
with His precious blood. 

3. We use our freedom to enslave us ; He employs His sovereign 
power to emancipate us. 

HE THAT WINNETH SOULS IS WISE. 
Prov. 11 : 30. 

1. That man is wise who makes the winning of souls one of the 
chief objects of his ministry. 

a. The edification of the living Church is indeed not to be neglected. 

b. But there can be no building up before the foundation has been 
laid. 

c. And in laying foundations, we should follow the wise Master- 
builder. 1 Cor. 3 : 10 ; Rom. 15 : 20. 

2. To win souls demands a wise use of means. 

3. Wisdom from above is required. Jas. 3 : 17, 18. 

4. Souls are to be won, not driven. 

GOD DESIROUS OF SAVING MEN. 
Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem, etc. Jer. 13 : 27. 
i. The woes which impenitent sinners have reason to expect. 
2. How unwilling God is to inflict them. 

Address : a. Those who imagine they have no need of cleansing. 
b. Those willing to be cleansed. 
c Those who desire to be cleansed. Rev. Charles Simeon. 

ENCOURAGEMENT TO CAPTIVES. 

Micah 2:13. 

The Messiah fulfilled this prophecy the first time, when he led the 

Jews out of Babylon. He had emancipated them in Egypt, Exodus 

33 : 14 ; Isa. 63 : 9 ; in the second and last period, in which he appears 

as the incarnate Redeemer of all men. 

AS THE BREAKER, JESUS GOES BEFORE ALL BELIEVERS. 

1. Conquering sin and Satan, the world and death. 

2. Opening the gates of hope, liberty, service, victory, and heaven. 



292 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

AND BARAK CALLED ZRBULUN AND NAPHTALI TO KADESH. 
Judges 4 : 10. 

1. All the Lord's battles are fought by chosen men. 

2. A general rally of a church against the common enemy is not to 
be expected. 

3. Those who are already in the field, though few, should not wait 
for reinforcements, but advance. 

AND SALT, WITHOUT PRESCRIBING HOW MUCH. 
Ezra 7 : 22. 

1. We may not limit the action and sphere of regenerating and 
sanctifying grace. 

2. There cannot be too many Christian people in the world. 

3. We ought not, therefore, to restrict the use of the means of 
grace. 

THE BLOOD OF THE LAWFUL SACRIFICE CANNOT BE IMPROVED BY 

ADDING TO IT OUR OWN BLOOD. 

1 Kings 18 : 28. 

1. Our sufferings cannot atone for our sins. 

2. Repentance toward God cannot supersede the necessity of faith 
in Christ. 

THE HIDING-PLACE DESTROYED. 
Isa. 28 : 17. 

1. The refuge of lies condemned by the plumb-line. 

2. The righteousness of God sweeps it away. 

3. The common justice of men overflows it. 

THE DISEASE AND THE BALM. 
Jer. 8 : 21, 22. 

1. The disease deplored : " For the heart of the daughter of my 
people," etc. 

2. The assurance that there is a remedy : " Is there no balm," etc. 

3. Why is it that health is not restored ? " Why then is not, " etc. 

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOUNG PILGRIMS. 
Jer. 31 : 9. 

1. The way is smooth. 

2. The way is straight. 

3. Rivers of water flow by the side of it. 

A REASONABLE CHOICE. 
We will go with you ; for we have heard that God is with you. Zech. 8 : 23. 



MISCELLA NE OUS. 293 

UNION IN PRAYER. 

And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord ; for he had nine hundred chariots 
of iron. Judges 4 : 3. 

i. By united supplication we may be enabled to subdue the most 
powerful opposition. 

2. May be enabled to convert the wickedest men. 

3. May be enabled to do these things by means of few and feeble 
instrumentalities. 

A REVIVAL ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE. 
Ps. 119: 25. 

1. Cleaving to the dust. 

2. Quickening prayed for. 

3. Agreeably to the word of God. 

THE CO-OPERATION OF FATHERS AND CHILDREN IN REVIVALS. 

Mai. 4 : s, 6 (compare Luke 1 : 17). 
i. The effect of Gospel repentance is not only to reconcile us to 
God, but to compose the differences which exists between parents and 
children. 

2. To secure their co-operation in the service of the Lord. 

3. Such union prepares the way for the coming of the King into 
many hearts. 

4. Disharmony between the Church and the Sunday-school, or the 
old and the young, is a curse to any congregation or community. 

WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR THEY REJOICED WITH EXCEEDING GREAT 

JOY. 
Matt. 2: 10. 

1. The light of reason leads us along many dangerous ways. 

2. The light of faith conducts us to our Saviour and King. 

3. Those who are thus led to Jesus share the joy of the Wise Men. 

SHAME FOR SIN A PREPARATION FOR DISCOVERING THE TRUE CHURCH. 

And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of 
the house. Ezek. 43: ti. 

THE SPIRIT'S I.IFE-GIVING OPERATIONS. 
John 6 : 63. 

1. Necessity, a. Men are legally dead. b. Spiritually dead. 

2. Subjects, a. The will. b. The attention, c. The intellect. 
d. Conscience. 

3. Mode. a. Mysterious, b. Instantaneous, c. Sovereign. 
d. Powerful. Rev. George Brooks. 



294 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

THE BLIND AND DUMB MAN HEALED. 
Matt. 12 : 22. 
This man illustrates the moral condition of many, 
i. They neither discern their spiritual interests, nor speak of them. 

2. But still they can hear the joyful sound of salvation. 

3. The Spirit of God can cause all such not only to hear, but see and 
speak. 

4. It is only through Christ that the Holy Spirit heals the soul. 

5. Every such instance of conversion is a fresh proof that the King- 
dom of God is come to us (see verse 28). 

TRIAL AND TRIUMPH OF FAITH IN THE EXPERIENCE OF THE WoMAN 

OF CANAAN. 

Matt. 15 ; 21-22 (compare Mark 7 : 24-26). 

THE BLINDNESS OF THE BACKSLIDER PARTIALLY CURED. 
Mark 8 : 22-25. 
The blind man healed at Jericho must have once been able to see, 
otherwise he would not have instantly recognized either man or tree ; 
it is not said that he was born blind. 

i. View this man at that stage of his cure when he sees men as 
trees walking about. 

a. A partial restoration of moral vision causes prejudices, mis- 
judgments of character and conduct, and such misdoings as short-com- 
ings as result from one-sided views of facts and obligations. 

b. Inadequate notions of cur fellow-man. 

(a) We regard man as if he were a being without intelligence or 
feeling — a living and walking tree ! 

(,<3) We live as if our fellow-man were to perish like a tree. 
(y) We regard them as timber produced for our exclusive use. 

c. We forget man's destiny. 

d. Our business is not to walk about (Gr. perii>atountas) in a circle, 
but to walk forward with the great purpose of life in view. 

2. The duty of the backslider that is partially cured. 

a. Let him permit the Great Physician to put His hands on his eyes 
once more. 

b. Let him first prove his cure to his own family rather than to the 
general public. 

SCIENCE DOES HOMAGE TO CHRIST. 
Malt. 2 : 1-12. 

i. True science leads first to Scripture, then directly to Christ. [The 
wise men go first to Jerusalem, then to Bethlehem.] 



MISCELLANEO US. 295 

2. At best it has inadequate views of Christ. He is not merely 
" King of the Jews." 

3. It pays a rich though late tribute to the Messiah. [The shep- 
herds went immediately. The Magi did not perhaps arrive until more 
than a year later.] Compare Matt. 2 : 16. 

4. Yet is science under the divine guidance and protection. [They 
were warned of God in a dream.] 

5. Finally it disappears, to be heard of no more. [Knowledge shall 
vanish away. 1 Cor. 13 : 8.] 

THE WAY HOME. 
Sermon to converts. Matt. 2 : 12. 

1. We are by nature lost. 

2. Our finding of Christ. 

3. The charge not to return to Herod. 

4. We are to go to our own country. 

5. And that by another way. Thomas Adams. 

OUT OF EGYPT HAVE I CALLED MY SON. 
Sermon to young converts. Matt. 2 : 15. 

1. As the child Jesus found in Egypt a refuge from His enemies, so 
the young convert finds security in the afflictions of the Gospel. 

2. Be not alarmed, then, if great temptations and disappointments 
soon overtake you. 

3. Satan, like Herod, would destroy his enemy while yet young. 

a. Be vigilant, therefore. 

b. And trust in the guidance and protection of the Almighty. 

EVANGELISTS FISHERS OF MEN. 
Matt. 4 : 19. 

The kingdom of God does not always advance gradually, like kaven 
in a mass of dough. Conversions do not always take place occa- 
sionally, one here and another there at long intervals of time, as 
when Peter caught with a hook only one fish having a piece of silver 
in its mouth. But sinners were also expected to come into the king- 
dom in large numbers at once, as when fish come into a net. And 
yet Christ Jesus alone can make men-fishing a real and lasting 
success. 

1. He alone can make us fishers of men. " Follow me, and I will 
make you," etc. 

a. He alone can make us Christians. 

b. He alone can give us the requisite simplicity and wisdom. 



296 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

c. He alone can bestow upon us and upon our audiences the 
Holy Ghost. 

2. The Lord alone can direct us when and where to cast in the net. 
(Compare Luke, chapter 5 and John, chapter 22.) 

3. He alone can save us from the consequences of too large and too 
mixed a membership. 

A PUBLIC PROFESSION OF RELIGION. 
Matt. 10 : 32, 33. 

1. It is due to the woild. 

2. Due to the Church. 

3. Due to yourself. 

4. Due to Christ. Rev. Dr. George VV. Bethune. 

THE WEDDIiNG GARMENT INDISPENSABLE. 
Matt. 22 : 22. 
i. Clad in this, the most miserable and criminal were admitted to 
the feast. 

2. To enter without it was to neglect to show a proper respect to 
the son. 

OUR DUTY TO A DEAD-ALIVE CHURCH. 
Matt. 24 : 12. 

i. Iniquity abounds. 

2. Hence complacency grows cold. 

3. Our love should now take the form of compassion. 

MEETING OF OPPOSITE CHARACTERS AT THE JUDGMENT. 
Matt. 25 132. 

Noah and the unbelievers to whom he preached ; Moses and 
Pharaoh ; David and Saul ; Elijah and Jezebel ; Paul and his perse- 
cutors ; we shall meet our kindred friends and enemies. 

FOLLOWING CHRIST AFAR OFF. 
Matt. 26 : 58. 

1. Indicate those who follow Jesus afar off : 

a. Those who have some love, but grace in them is weak. 

b. Such as are ashamed to confess Christ. 

c. Those who walk inconsistently. 

d. Such as do not heartily promote the kingdom of Christ. 

2. The causes of following Jesus afar off. 

a. Weakness of faith, b. Fear of man. c. Attachment to the 
world, d. Self-confidence. 



MI SC ELL A NEOUS. 297 

3. The evils of this course. 

a. It is not honorable, b. It is not reasonable, c. It is not com- 
fortable, d. It is not safe. Rev. Duncan Matheson. 

THE DAY OF GOD'S POWER. 
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. Ps. no : 3. 
i. The persons spoken of : " Thy people ;" God's elect, those given 
to Christ by the Father. 

2. The promise of the Father to Emmanuel regarding these persons : 
they shall be willing. 

a. They are willing to be saved by Christ's imputed righteousness. 

b. They are willing to be subject to His kingly power. 

c. They are willing to bear the cross ifi following Him. 

3. The time of the promise — the day of Emmanuel's power. 

a. It is the time of His exaltation to the mediatorial throne (verse 1). 

b. It is the day of the free preaching of the gospel. 

c. It is the day in which Christ crucified is the centre and sum of 
the doctrine taught. 

d. It is the day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (verse 2). 
Conclusion : An invitation to sinners respecting Isa. 55 : 1-3 and 

Rev. 22 : 17. Rev. William C. Burns, Scottish Evangelist.* 

THE TEMPTATIONS OF CHRIST AFTER HIS BAPTISM. 
S rmon addressed to young converts. Matt. 4 : 1. 
The temptations of our Saviour may for our present purpose be 
summed up in these three suggestions of the Wicked One. 

1. Take the most hidden way to the ptizes of life. 

2. Take the shortest path to what you most desire. 

3. Take the newest road to wealth or power, pleasure or honor. 

HOW MUCH THEN IS A MAN BETTER THAN A SHEEP? 
Matt. 12 : 12. 

1. The life of a man is of more value than the life of a brute. 

a. Yet there are those who would help pull a sheep out of a ditch 
who will do nothing for the reform of the drunkard, for the sick or 
the poor. 

b. There are those who do more for pet horses and dogs than for 
their sick or disabled servants. 

2. The soul of a man is worth more than the life of a sheep. 

* The sermon of which the above is an outline was preached in the parish church 
at Kilsyth, July 23d, 1839. The awakening that attended it is related in this 
preacher's memoir, by Rev. Dr. Islay Burns, pp. 83-130. Full notes of parts of this 
sermon are given in the appendix of the memoir, pp. 561-568. 



298 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

a. There are those who would rescue a sheep from death while they 
are doing nothing to save their own souls. 

b. Some show great compassion for all the lower animals and for 
the afflicted bodies of human beings, and yet they are helping to destroy 
the souls of their fellow-men. 

TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU. 
Matt 11 : 29. 

i. Human beings cannot be saved by destroying their will. 
2. The service of Christ is a voluntary service. 

WHY STAND YE HERE ALL THE DAY IDLE? 
.Matt. 20 : 1. 

1. Why ? The vineyard is so spacious. 

2. Why? The reward is so liberal. 

3. Why? The Master is so kind. 

4. Why? The time of working is so short. 

J. J. Van Oosterzee. 

FOR INGATHERING — THE EFFECTS OF CHRIST'S ENTRY INTO THE 
TEMPLE. 
Matt. 21 : 12-16. 
i. The restoration of the temple to sacred uses. 

2. The healing of the blind and the lame. 

3. The conversion of children ; their hosannas. 

4. The displeasure of the chief priests and scribes. 

WHAT THE GOSPEL DOES FOR US. 
Luke 8 : 35. 
Many of our Lord's miracles may fairly be employed as acted 
parables. In conversion, we received — 
- 1. Soundness of mind — " in his right mind." 

2. The vesture of Christ's righteousness — "clothed." 

3. True peace — "sitting at the feet of Jesus." 

THE FIELDS OF EVANGELISTIC WORK. 

Luke 14 : 21-24. 
Three invitations : 

1. To those who " were bidden" (vs. 16, 20). 

2. To those who lived and begged in the open streets and lanes of 
the city (v. 21). 

3. To those who were found in the highways and hedges of the 
suburbs — drunkards, thieves, robbers, tramps, etc. (v. 23). 

Conclusion : a. They were to go out quickly. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 299 

b. They were to keep in mind the extent of the feast. 

c. The third class they must compel to come. 

THE LOST COIN. 
Luke 15 : 8-10. 
A striking image of the soul : 

1. Its original brilliancy. 

2. Its present deterioration. 

3. Its worth when it is found. J. J. Van Oosterzee. 

THE PHARISEE IN THE PARABLE. 
Luke 18 : 11, 12. 

1. The self-righteous spirit is harsh in its judgments of others. 

2. It is inconsistent in its utterances. (He is no sinner, and yet he 
fasts as if he were a very great sinner.) 

3. It is ever prone to magnify a service of rites and forms. 

Rev. Dr. Henry Calderwood. 

christ more mighty than the power of sin and satan. 

Luke 11 : 21-23. 

1. An encouragement to sinners to fly to Jesus for help and 
refuge. 

2. A motive to weak believers to continue the Christian warfare. 

MEMORANDA OF THE PRODIGAL SON. 
Luke 15 : 11-24. 

i. Wilful. 2. Wandering. 3. Wasteful. 4. Wanting. 5. Wretch- 
ed. 6. Walking home again. 7. Welcome. 

Rev. Dr. Joseph Sanderson. 
" Another. 1. Rebellious. 2. Roaming. 3. Revelling. 4. Ruined. 
5. Reflecting. 6. Remembering. 7. Resolving. 8. Returning. 
9. Received. 10. Rejoicing. 

THE LAMB OF GOD. 
John 1 : 29. 
i. The sin of the world. 

2. The Lamb of God, who takes it away. 

3. Behold Him. 

THE DAY OF OUR PROBATION. 
The night cometh, when no man can work. John 9 : 4. 

i. We ought to give our first attention to the most important work. 

2. We should commence work by believing in Christ's work. 

3. The night may come unexpectedly ; it must come soon. 

4. When the night is upon us, it is too late to commence work. 



3CO REVIVAL SERVICE. 

THE END OF THE SPIRIT'S MISSION IS TO GLORIFY CHRIST. 
He shall glorify me. John 16 : 14. 
i. Explain this prediction. 

2. Show what this prediction explains. 

3. Show the relation of this subject to our experience and duty. 

BEHOLD THE MAN. 
John 19:5. 

With very different feelings we may regard him : 

1. With wonder. 2. With pity. 3. Admiration. 4. Penitence. 
5. Faith. 

SAVE YOURSELVES FROM THE WORLD. 

Acts 2 : 40. 
i. A testimony. 

a. Expressed : " this untoward generation." 

b. Implied : that his hearers were in danger of being lost. "Save 
yourselves." 

2. An exhortation : " Save yourselves." 

a. Not merely from perdition. 

b. Not merely from an accusing conscience. 

c. But from this present world. 

3. How save yourselves ? (v. 38). 

WHO ARE THEY THAT RESIST THE HOLY GHOST ? 
Acts 7 : 51. 

1. The stiff-necked. 

2. The uncircumcised in heart. 

3. In ears. 

REPENTANCE A GIFT OF GOD. 
Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Acts 11: 18. 
i. As to time. 

2. As to grace. 

3. As to instrumentalities. 

THE AWAKENING AT ANTIOCH. 
Acts 11 : 20-21. 

1. The primitive evangelists preached the Lord Jesus. 

2. The hand of the Lord was with them. 

3. And a great number believed. 

4. And turned unto the Lord. 

THE TWELFTH COMMANDMENT. 

God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17: 30. 

Archbishop Lusher used to call the "New Commandment" the 



M ISC ELL A NE US. 3 o 1 

eleventh ; and accordingly we may, not without good reasons, reckon 
as next in order ihe command to repent. Repentance is not a mere 
privilege to which the Gospel invites us ; it is an imperative duty, an 
act of obedience demanded by divine authority and enforced by 
eternal penalties. Were we able to dig deep enough, we would find 
that Sinai and Calvary have a common foundation. Both rest on the 
law of God. Many words of Scripture imply this. Luther confessed 
that he was never able to draw a line of demarkation between the 
Law and the Gospel. 

SAILING WAS NOW DANGEROUS. 
Acts 27 : 9. 
i. There are perilous seasons in the voyage of life. 
2. To take warning is reasonable and wise. 

ALL ESCAPED SAFE TO LAND. 
Acts 27 : 43. 

1. Some called to active, and others to passive Christian life. 

2. Active not required to wait for passive Christians. 

3. The passive should not complain that the active leave them 
behind. 

DIVINE WRATH A REVELATION FROM HEAVEN. 
Rom. 1 : 8. 

i. It is not a mere deduction of reason. 

2. Not a mere voice of conscience. 

3. Not a mere sentiment of the heart. It is a revelation of God. 

a. To our faith. 

b. To our reason. 

c. To our conscience. 

d. To our heart. 

e. To our senses. 

THE EFFECTIVE CHARACTER OF PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN ADDRESSES. 

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and 
comfort. 1 Cor. 14 : 3. 

The reputation of being insane not to be sought (v. 23). 
1. Their object was edification. 

a. By exhoitation. 

b. By consolation or encouragement. 

c. Instruction (v. 31). 

d By variety of exercises, (vs. 6, 26-32). 

e. By communications intended for the intellect as well as the 
heart (vs. 15-17, 19, 20). 



302 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

f. By the observance of propriety and order. 

2. Their effect was the conversion of inquirers. (See Neander's 
" Planting and Training" on I Cor. 14 : 22-24.) Describe the succes- 
sive stages (vs. 24, 25). 

LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING. 

Gal. 6 : 9. 
St. Paul includes himself. 

1. It is here supposed that Christian laborers can be weary in well 
doing. Why? 

2. Dissuasives from yielding to weariness. 

3. The consequences of fainting in the time of harvest. 

ABEL BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKS. 
Heb. 11 : 4. 

1. He speaks by His faith. 

a. His faith obeyed Jehovah in the choice and offering of the sac- 
rifice. 

b. It was with him an individual matter. The Lamb of God dies 
for every believer individually. Imagine yourself the only believer 
on earth. You would need an atonement all the same. 

c. Imagine how Abel felt on being received by Christ into glory. 

2. To whom does Abel speak? 

a. To those who would invent a religion of their own. 

b. To those who say it matters not what you believe or do, so your 
heart is only right. 

c. To such as trust in obedience or affliction. 

THE DANGERS OF YOUNG CHRISTIANS. 
1 Pet. 5 : 8. 

1. Point out some of the most common of these dangers. 

a. A feeling of security. 

b. A slothful spirit in regard of religious duties. 

c. Worldly-mindedness. 

d. Bad examples. 

e. A love of popular approbation. 

2. How may we escape these dangers? 

a. Be always on the lookout. 

b. Resist the beginnings of temptation. 

c. Look to the Lord for help. Rev. A. C. Baldwin. 

GOD IS LOVE. GOD IS LIGHT. 

1 J ;hn 4:8. 1 John 1 : 5. 
i. God is love. 
a. God has love in His heart or will. 



MISCELLA NEO US. 303 

b. He manifests love in His word and works. 
2. God is light. 

a. He is the author of the Scriptures. 

b. He sends to us the Divine Spirit to teach us the meaning of 
Scriptute. 

c. Hence we should inquire what light God throws on His love. 

a. According to the light of Scripture, God's love respects divine 
justice, holiness, and faithfulness. 

b. It defines the sources and limits of Christian love or charity. 

THE GRACE OF SALVATION. 
Titus 2 : 11. 

1. The grace of God. 

2. That bringeth salvation. 

3. Hath appeared to all men. 

" THESE THINGS SAITH HE THAT IS HOLY, HE THAT IS TRUE." 
Rev. 3:7. 
i. Christ and His witnesses are holy ; hence they are worthy of 
belief. 

2. The enemies of Christ are unholy, and therefore not to be credited. 

THE FINAL INVITATION. 
Rev. 22 : 17. 
i. The Divine Spirit says, " Come." 

a. In the inspired Word. 

b. In creation. 

c. In Providence. 

d. In preachers and all believers, and especially in young converts. 

e. The Spirit whispers the invitation in the hearts of convicted and 
anxious hearers. 

2. The Bride or the Church triumphant says, " Come." 

a. The glorified saints in all past ages. 

b. Our departed kindred and friends. 

3. To whom is the invitation given ? 

a. To every thirsty soul. 

b. To every willing heart. 

c. To every one that will " take." 

4. The inducement to come. 

a. The water of life. 

b. Freely (a) as being without price. 
(/?.) As being abundant. 

(y.) Every hearer is requested to invite others. 



304 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. 
R-v. 22 : 20. 

1. The Lord's final coming maybe soon. 

2. To multitudes it must be sudden and unexpected. 



PROMISCUOUS THEMES AND TEXTS. 

The Ark of Salvation the only security for families. Gen. 7 : 7. 

The Divine Spirit reveals to the heart its newness of life. Gen. 
8 : n. 

Angel hands rescuing the lingerers. Gen. 19 : it. 

The break of day was not what Jacob wrestled for. Gen. 32 : 26. 

Are we under the wings of the God of Israel ? Ruth 2 : 12. 

Encouraged by superior numbers. 2 Kings 6 : 16. 

Self justification condemns God. Job 40 : 8. 

The Good Shepherd leading His sheep along a bend in their path. 
Ps. 23 : 3. 

The folly of that human wisdom which is at war with God. Prov. 
21 : 30. 

Regeneration rather than affliction demanded. Isa. 1 : 5. 

The conversion of the heathen a motive for seeking the conversion 
of nominal Christians. Isa. 52 : 10. 

The danger of delay and the necessity of making haste. Ps. 
119 : 60. 

An apology for zeal. Ps. 119 : 139. 

The backslider should not delay his return. Ps. 119 : 60. 

[The Hebrew word for delay is applied to a trifling and unreason- 
able tarrying in great emergencies. Gen. 19 : 16 ; 63 : 10 ; Exodus 
12 : 39. — A. J. Alexander. ~\ 

Pride deceives us in regard of God's purpose and power. Obadiah 

3.4- 

Rowing against the Divine Command. Jonah 1 : 13. 

Active service among the young removes the doubts and fears of the 
Church. Canticles 1: 8. 

Neglecting the lambs, "He shall carry the lambs in His bosom." 
Isa. 40 : 11. 

Killing the Lambs. "He that sacrificeth a lamb," etc. Isa. 66 : 3. 

Feeding the Lambs. " Feed my lambs." John 21 : 15. 

Preconceptions and prejudices in religion. 2 Kings 5 : 11, 12. 



PROMISCUOUS THEMES AND TEXTS. 305 

The alternatives offered, or the choice of Moses. Hebrews 11 : 25. 

The sinner in fleeing one evil meets another. Amos 5 : 19. 

Sin a burden— past, present, and future. " Bow down their back," 
etc. Rom. 11 : 10. 

Lest that I myself should be a castaway. (To converts.) I Cor. 
9: 27. 

The inseparable connection of Christ and the Spirit in the work of 
salvation. John 16 : 7-15. 

The wearisome wanderings of such as are ignorant of the way of 
salvation. (He knoweth not how to go to the city. Eccl. 10 ; 15.) 

The woman of Samaria before conversion is controversial. John 
4 : 20. 

Seek ye me, and ye shall live (see repetitions in verses 6, 8, 14). 
Amos 5 : 4. 

The new commandment. John 13 : 34. [The newness here con- 
sists in our making the self-sacrificing love of Jesus the example of 
our love to one another" "As I have loved you."] 

I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Acts 26 : 19. 

Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the 
Lord? 1 Chron. 29 : 5. 

The two sons. [Lessons from this parable for close of revival.] 
Matt. 21 : 28-32. 

The midnight importunity in behalf of a hungry friend. Luke 
11 : 5-8. 

[Be thou ashamed, O Zidon ; for the sea hath spoken ; Isa. 23 : 4. 
Commercial cities have reason to be ashamed of the moral and 
spiritual condition of sailors.] 

Caleb's exhortation : " Let us go up at once," etc. Num. 13 : 30. 

Saul as a rejected inquirer. 1 Sam. 28 : 6. 

The struggles of the will overcome through prayer. Luke 22 : 41- 
43- 

Apology for the fact that there are unconverted persons in the 
Church drawn from the Parable of the Tares. Matt. 13 : 28. 

Lost opportunities. " And as thy servant was busy here and there, 
he was gone." 1 Kings 20 : 40. 

Broken cisterns preferred to the fountain. Jer. 2 : 13. 

The neglect of the duty of believing. John 12 : 37. 

The madness of mankind. [Sermon by the Rev. George Finley.] 
Eccles. 9 : 3. 

The importance of seeking the Lord early : " When the sun waxed 
hot, it melted." Exod. 16 : 21. 

We are forever to be learners in the school of Christ. " Mary hath 



30 6 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

chosen that good part, which shall never be taken away from her." 
Luke 10 : 42. 

Your joy no man taketh from you. [Sermon to converts.] John 
16 : 22. 

Nicodemus, or secret discipleship. John 3:1,2. 

The servants sent to dry wells. Jer. 14 : 3. 

Wise unto salvation. 2 Tim. 3 : 15. 

How can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? Esther 
8:6. 

Touching the hem of the Messiah's garment. Matt. 14 : 34-36. 

They were waiting for Him. Luke 8 : 40. 

While ye have light, believe in the light, etc. John 12 : 36. 

And Abram fell on his face : and God talked with him. Gen. 17:3. 

[Reverence and humiliation before God prepare us to learn His will.] 

The Church well equipped, yet retreating on the day of battle. Ps. 
78 : 9. (The battle alluded to may possibly have been the affray 
mentioned in 1 Chron. 7 : 21, but most pro! ably it was the victory of 
the Philistines on the day when the ark was captured near Shiloh, in 
the land of Ephraim.) Sam. 4 : 1-18. 

The revival in the summer at Samatia. John 4 : 6. (The great re- 
vival at Nineveh in the days of Jonah, the revival at Everton in 
England in 1759, at East Hampton, L. I., in 1764, and in Ireland 
in 1859, occurred in the summer.) 

A warning against pride. 1 Tim. 3 : 6. " Nothing," saysTholuck, 
"creeps so easily into the heart of a man after conversion, as 
pride." 

Bartimeus. Luke 18 : 41, 42. 

The Master requires cur intelligent and deliberate choice. Luke 
9 : 58. 

For ye were as sheep going astray, etc. [Sermon to converts.] 1 
Pet. 2 : 25. 

A false profession makes the service of Christ slavery. Joshua 
9 : 21. 

The cry of despair heard. Gen. 21 : 16. 

Be of good cheer ; thy sins be forgiven thee. Matt. 9 : 2. 

Our own resources are inadequate. t( This man began to build, 
and was not able to finish." Luke 14 : 28-32. 

What is it to be an enemy of Christ? John 15 : 23. 

The ten days' prayer-meeting in the upper room. Acts 1 : 14. 

The friends of Christ here and hereafter. Matt. 12 : 47-5°- 

What scene it is our privilege to approach. Heb. 12 : 22-24. 

The fatherhood of God in His compassion for doubters. Ps. 103 : 13. 



PROMISCUOUS THEMES AND TEXTS. 307 

The Lord as viewed by the convicted and the converted. Ps. 
18 : 11, 12. 

God the Author both of the Winter and the Spring of the soul. Ps. 
147 : 15-18. 

Invading Canaan without God's command, presence, and promise. 
Numbers 14 : 40-45. 

Be not afraid ; only believe. [Sermon to parents.] Mark 5 : 36. 

Christ the sinner's only Refuge. " The hail shall sweep away the 
refuge of lies. . . . Isa. 28 : 17. 

Our Religion tried at the altar of Sacrifice. 1 Kings 18 : 17-46. 

Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? 2 Sam. 
ig : 11. 

Waiting for God's salvation. Gen. 49 : 18. 

One effect of the outpouring of the Spirit is righteousness. Isa. 
32 : 16, 17. 

Come before Winter. [Sermon on the difficulty of death-bed repent- 
ance.] 2 Tim. 4 : 21. 

The answer which ministers are to return to God. 2 Sam. 24 ; 13. 

Bring him hither to me. Mark 9 : 14. 

Is the young man Absalom safe ? 2 Sam. 18 : 29. 

Importance of maturing wishes into purposes. Neither did he set 
his heart to this also Exod. 7 : 23. 

Those whom reform cannot chain the Religion of Jesus can tame. 
Mark 5 : 4. 

Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. 2 Kings 6 : 20. 

The new Kingdom within the heart goes on seeking till it finds 
Christ. Matt. 13 : 45, 46. 

The Lord Jesus manifested to destroy the works of the devil. 1 
John 3 : 8. 

Those who will not rejoice at the feast of the Lord's ingathering 
are not to enjoy the showers of His grace. Zech. 14 : 16-19. 

Go the one way or other, either on the right hand or the left. Ezek. 
21 : 16. 

O that Ishmael might live before thee ! Gen. 17 : 18. 

And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8 : 8. 

Waiting for Christ. Luke 8 : 40. 

Come down ere my child die. John 4 : 49. 

My spirit shall not always strive with man. Gen. 6 : 3. 

The Spirit of the Lord causing the excellency of the natural man to 
wither. Isa. 40 : 7. 

The Holy Spirit inspiring the feeble with the power of the eagle. 
Isa. 40 : 29-31. 



308 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The lepers of Samaria. 2 Kings 7 : 9. 

And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down and tare 
him. Luke 9 : 42. 

Yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled. 2 
Sam. 14 : 14. [Sermon to and in behalf of backsliders.] 

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. Matt. 25 : 7. 

He that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. Eccles. 11:4. 

They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2 
Thess. 2 : 10. 

Conviction, if not followed by conversion, is dangerous. Luke 
11 : 24-26. 

Is the Lord among us or not ? Exod. 10 : 17. 

Behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name. 
Dan. 9 : 18. 

Repentance and faith are not to be separated. Acts 20 : 21. 

Uses and abuses a sense of unworthiness. " I am not worthy 
that thou shouldst come under my roof." Matt. 8 : 8. 

That they which come in may see the light. Luke 11 : 33. 

Neutrality in our religion impossible. Matt. 12 : 30. 

Compel them to come in. Luke 14 : 23. 

Your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ. [Sermon to 
converts.] 2 Cor. 9 : 13. 

The covetous deride Christ. Luke 16 : 14. 

Invited to believe the Good News. Mark 1 : 15. 

The Father honors those who serve the Son. John 12 : 26. 

Christ by His Spirit has come to bring us home. John 14 : 3. 

And now Lord what wait I for? My hope is in thee. Ps. 39 ; 7. 

Simplicity of purpose leads to unity of action. 1 Chron. 12 : 33. 

They departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy. 
Matt. 28 : 8. 

Doubting prayer heard. Mark 9 : 22. 

The timid and concealed seeker. Luke 8 : 43-48. 

The sinner and manslayer compared. Num. 35 : 9-15. 

Stumbling on dark mountains. Jer. 13 : 16. 

The resurrection of Lazarus. John 11 : 43, 44. 

To revive the spirit of the contrite ones. Isa. 57 : 15. 

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not, etc. Heb. 11 : 31. 

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, etc. Heb. 11 : 30. 

The Wise and the Foolish Virgins. Matt. 25 : 1-12. 

The character of God as a pardoner. Micah 7:18. - 

The prayers of very imperfect men heard in the name of Christ. 
Jas. 5 : 17, 18. 



PROMISCUOUS THEMES AND TEXTS. 309 

Toil and suffering in behalf of the conversion of sinners [that I 
may know the fellowship of his sufferings. Phil. 3 : 10]. 

Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians. Exod. 14 : 12. 

The Refuge of the new convert in a time of persecution. (Trust 
ye not in a friend. ... I will wait for the God of my salvation ; my 
God will hear me.) Micah 7 : 5-7. 

Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened? Micah 2 : 7. 

Every one over against his house. Neh. 3 : 28. 

After him repaired Meshullam, over against his chamber. Neh. 
3 : 30. 

Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened till the sun be hot. Neh. 

7 : 3- 

The rocks rent. Matt. 27 : 51. 

What should I wait for the Lord any longer ? 2 Kings 6 : 33. 

They shall not find him ; he hath withdrawn himself from them. 
Hos. 5:6. 

And he went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8 ■ 39. 

Prejudice as hindering our salvation. John 1 : 46. 

Master, I have brought unto thee my son. Mark 9 : 17. 

Address to young converts on cleaving to the Lord. Acts 11 : 23. 

Despising God's goodness and forbearance. Rom. 2 : 4. 

The sower and the reaper rejoicing together. John 4 : 36. 

The sin of neglecting the rescue of others. (If thru forbear to de- 
liver them that are drawn unto death ) Prov. 24 : 11, 12. 

Lost sheep to be looked after first. Luke 15 : 3-7. 

The penitent thief. Luke 23 : 39-43. (This narrative leads us (1) 
into the heart of the sinner ; (2) into the heart of the Saviour. — 
Adolph Saphir.) 

The captive hasting to be set free. Isa. 51 : 14. 

Gather out the stones. Isa. 40 : 3, 4. 

And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up with the 
wind, we let her drive. Acts 27 ■ 15. 

[The wisdom of the Church cannot control the Spirit. Rev. Dr. A. 
J. Burlingham.] 

They will reverence my son. Mark 12 : 6. 

Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Ps. 35 : 3. 

Christ becomes, our light by curing our blindness. John 9 : 5-7. 

The Hebrew maid in the house of Naaman. [Sermon to servants.] 
2 Kings 5 ; 3. 

A revival experience. (Wilt thou not revive us again : that thy 
people may rejoice in thee ?) Ps. lxxxv. 6. 



3io REVIVAL SERVICE. 

The son of the widow of Nain. [Sermon to parents.] Luke 

7 : H-I3- 

Do your first duty, then will the second be revealed. Acts 9 : 6. 

Formal professors pray that the anxious may be sent away. Matt. 
15 : 23. 

The conversion of a child is a mercy to the parent. Matt. 17 : 15. 

An invitation addressed to quiet and afflicted believers to rise and 
welcome Christ and witness His power. John n: 28, 29. 

The guilt and penalty of sin as seen in the light of the Cross. Luke 
23 : 48. 

When is it the eleventh hour with us t Matt. 20 : 6. 

Salvation for great sinners [sermon to backsliders]. Ezek. 36 : 
26, 27. 

Call the poor, the lame, and the blind. Luke 14 : 13. 

Faith before wisdom, and wisdom before knowledge. Ps. 119 : 66. 

Prayer for Divine knowledge the best preparation for studying and 
teaching science. Ps. 119: 27. 

If the enemy is near us, the Lord also is near us. Ps. 119 : 150, 151. 

The wandering professor like a lost sheep. Ps. 119 : 76. 

True life from the true source. Ps. 119 : 50. 

Awake ! awake ! put on strength, O arm of the Lord. Isa. 51:9. 

It is high time to awake out of sleep. Rom. 13 : it. 

I go that I may awake him out of sleep. John 11 : 11. 

Awaking out of the snare of the Dev.l [marginal reading]. 2 Tim. 
2 : 26. 

Awake thou that sleepest, and rise from the dead, etc. Eph. 5 : 14. 

But he awaketh, and his soul is empty. Isa. 29 : 8. 

Awakening without the Gospel drives to despair. Acts 16 : 27. 

Christ did not answer every prayer. Mark 5 : 18, 19, 

Insignificance no excuse for neglected duty. Jer. 1 : 6. (Compare 
what the same prophet says in Ps. 119 : 141.) 

What will you do with Christ? Matt. 27 : 22. 

Christ as regarded by His friends and by the multitude. Mark 
3 : 20, 21. 

Spiritual resurrections attend God's visits. Luke 7 : 16. 

The city destroyed because she knew not ihe time of her visitation, 
Luke 19 : 44. 

They who receive Christ become sons of God. John 1 : 12. 

While the disciples are rowing amidst darkness and tempest, Jesus 
appears. John 6 : 17, 19. 

The evidence of Christian Experience, John 9 : 25. 

The relation of proof and grace to saving faith. John 12 : 37. 

Glad tidings of the terms of reconciliation. Acts 10 : 36. 



PROMISCUOUS THEMES AND TEXTS. 311 

The Word of God's grace [a farewell sermon]. Acts 20 : 32. 

Felix as the father of bribe-takers. Acts 24 : 26. 

The lies of the market and the exchange. Prov. 21 : 6. 

The profanation of the lot in games of chance. Prov. 16 : 33. 

Thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed. Levit. 19 : 19. 

[A sermon on the adulteration of food and medicine. Other texts on 
the same subject : Isa. 5 : 20 ; 2 Kings 4 : 38-41 ; Rev. 8 : 10, 11.] 

The Gospel shows us the way to quietness and assurance. Isa. 
32: 17. 

Prayer for God's gracious return to His people. Isa. 63 : 17, 19. 

The young convert's prayer for the Father's guidance. Jer. 3 : 4. 

The golden sons of Zion are as earthen pitchers on the day of doom. 
Lam. 4 : 2. 

The Lord's face no longer hid. Ezek. 39 : 29. 

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion. Amos 6 : 1. 

But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Gal. 5 : i3. 

Paul a great sinner ; Christ a great Saviour. 1 Tim. 1:15. 

To every man his work. Mark 13 : 34. 

Avoid exaggeration. Come see a man which told me all things, etc. 
John 4 : 29. 

Say not ye there are four months, and then cometh the harvest. 
John 4 : 35. 

The revival in the summer at Nineveh. Jonah 4 : 5-1 1. 

Be not too attentive to signs and seasons. Eccles. 11:4. 

No room for Jesus in the inn. Luke 2 : 7. 

My soul cleaveth unto the just. Ps. 119 : 25. 

The woman searching for the lost piece of silver representing the 
Holy Spirit seeking the lost soul. Luke 15 : 8-10. 

The cords of moral obligation which bind us to the Messiah not to 
be cast away. Ps. 2 : 3. 

Dead in God's way ; alive again in His way. Ps. 119 : 37. 

Prayer before and prayer after revival. Ps. 80 : 18. 

A revival causes rejoicing in God. Ps. 85 : 6. 

The last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 1 Cor. 15 : 45. 

Unwillingness to hear of rest and refreshing. Isa. 28 : 12. 

To lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving. Ezra 9 : 8. 

The Church healed and revived. Hos. 6 : 1, 2. 

Repent in order that times of retreshing may come. Acts 3 : 19. 

When they were awake, they saw his glory. Luke 9 : 32. 

Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust. Isa. 26 : 19. 

Becoming diseased about questions, and a strife of words. 1 Tim. 
6:4. 

The providential protection of youthful piety. Matt. 2 : 13. 



312 REVIVAL SERVICE. 

When they persecute you in this city, flee ye unto another. Matt. 
10 : 23. 

How Satan, by scattering, destroys a church ; the devil as a roaring 
lion. 1 Pet. 5:8. (A traveller is of opinion that the roaring of the 
lion by scattering a flock of animals causes some in terror and dark- 
ness to run heedlessly to him, instead of from him.) 

The Lord Jesus tempted immediately after his baptism. [To young 
converts.] Matt. 4 : 1. 

Inaction is reaction, sometimes. Since the fathers fell asleep, etc. 
2 Pet. 3 : 4. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFESSING JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD. 
Luke 8 : 45-48 

1. Why did our Lord sometimes enjoin concealment? 

2. Did he ever request any to confess Him before they were 
healed ? 

3. When is a public confession clearly demanded ? 

ASA'S TIMELY PRAYER. 
2 Chron. 14 : 10-12. 

1. Asa made a proper disposition of his army. 

2. He cried unto the Lord his God. 

The Gospel sometimes occasions a tumult. Acts 19 : 23. , 

The Gospel may be represented as revolutionary. Acts 17:6. 

For the beginning. Isa. 51:9. 

For the ingathering. Isa. 53 : 1. 

The advantages of union in revival work illustrated by contrast. 
Gen. 11 : 6. 

The promise is to those who search With the whole heart. Jer. 
29 : 13. 

Sermon to strangers. (And it shall come to pass that in what tribe 
the stranger sojourneth. . . .) Ezek. 47 : 23. 

The effects of a primitive work of grace. Acts 2 : 42-47. 

Amusements unseasonable in time of danger. Ezek. 21 : 9-10. 

Trust not for peace with God in doing and suffering. Isa. 30 : 15. 

Bring him hither to me. Mark 17 : 17. 

Make haste and come down. Luke 19 : 5. 

The atonement an occasion of rejoicing. Rom. 5 : 11. 

The liberty of the children of God. Rom. 8 : 21. 

Christ answering the demands of the law. Rom. 10 : 4. 

Abounding in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. Rom. 
15 : 13. [A farewell sermon. Another, 2 Cor. 13 : 11.] 

A review of a primitive work of grace. 1. Thess. 1 : 5-7. 



PROMISCUOUS THEMES AND TEXTS. 313 

Christianized service is the most profitable. Philemon it. 
Immediate action a remedy for forgetfulness and self-deception. Jas. 
1 : 22-24. 
The scoffers of our time witness for the truth of prophecy. 2 Pet. 

3 : 3- 

The parable of the Good Shepherd as illustrating the stupidity of 
some sinners in their wandeiings. [Bengel.J Luke 15 : 1-7. 

The parable of the lost piece of money as showing the ignorance of 
some sinners concerning their lost condition. [Bengel.J Luke 
15 : 8-10. 

The parable of the Prodigal Son as exhibiting the wilfulness of 
some sinners. [Bengel.] Luke 15 : 11-32. 

Truth, peace, and equity as evangelizing forces. Mai. 2 : 6. 

The revival lessons of spring. (Floods upon the dry ground 

willows by the water courses.) Isa. 44 : 3,4. 

It is time to seek the Lord. Hos. 10 : 12. 

The Lord be with us, as he was with our fathers. 1 Kings 8 : 57, 58. 

The men of Gibeon asking help of the hosts of the Lord. Josh. 10 : 6. 

To cease to pray for others is to sin against the Lord. 1 Sam 12 : 23. 

The zeal of Jehu wanting in obedience to God 2 Kings 10 : 31. 

Parents are to give Christian training to their converted children. 
' Take up thy son." 2 Kings 4 : 36, 37. [This subject may also be 
proper for a sermon to the church concerning its duty to new con- 
verts.] 

If the people will not hearken to God, He will not hearken them. 
Zech. 7 : 13. [Compare Hosea 5:6; Micah 3:4; Jer. 11 : 14 ; 
14 : 12.] 

Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the 
scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of 
heaven. Matt. 5 : 20. [Spener was converted while preaching on 
this text] 

I gave her space to repent. Rev. 2 ; 21. 

Satan's great wrath and little time. Rev. 12 : 12. 

Wonder-working croakers. (And I saw three unclean spirits like 
froo:s. working miracles.) Rev. 16 : 13-15. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Rev. 22 : 21. 



ERRATA. 



Page ii, Kelsyth read Kilsyth. 

29, line 18 from foot of page, these read those. 

" " teaching read teasing. 

" " of read or. 

" " omit s in travellers. 

" " Luke 15 : 7 read Luke I : 15. 

" " moved read led. 

John 1 : 38, 56, read John 1 : 35, 36. 

" " add text 1 Tim. 6 : 12, 

" " add text Matt. 13 : 46. 

" " Heb. 3 : 2 read Hab. 3 : 2. 

" " Madley read Madeley. 

" " published read preached. 

" " to title of sermon add text Rom. 
10 : 3. 

297, " 22 " " " respecting raz</ by repeating. 



86, 


< 12 


90, 


" 6 


124, 


' 20 


127, ' 


' 19 


147, 


' 23 


166, 


' 34 


178, 


' 22 


208, 


' 11 


213, 


' 20 


223, 


4 33 


255. 


1 11 


259. 


1 J 4 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



Genesis. Page 

x:2 286 

1 : 3, 4 286 

1 : 26 223 

2: 17 191 

3 : 9 I 7i, 188 

3 = 45 l6 7 

4:7 266 

4:9 284 

5:24 167, 188 

6 : 3 22, 37, 226, 245, 307 

6:5 186 

6 : 22 228 

7:1 2 38, 251, 259 

7: 7 3°4 

7 : i5 174 

8 : 8, 9 217 

ti : 6 312 

« : 32 J 7i 

13 : 12 189 

15 : 16 180 

17 : 3 306 

17 : 18 307 

18 : 32 159 

19 : 6 304 

19 : 16 286 

19 : 17 260 

21 : 16 306 

22 : 5 213 

22 : 12 164 

'24:40 216 

24: 56 171 

27:38 224 

28 : 12-15 168 

28 : 16 170 

32 : 26 304 

32: 28 218 

39 : 12 228 

4i : 53 167 

42 : 21 213 

44 : 12 286 



Genesis. Page 

45 :4 22 3 

45 : 20 178 

49 : 10 229 

49 : 18 307 

49: 19 2 30 

Exodus. 
4:2-4 178 

7 =23 307 

8 : 10 251 

10 : 17 308 

12 : 13 174 

14 : 12 309 

14: 13 i57 

14 : 15 182 

16 : 21 305 

22 : 36 239, 259 

32 : 26 171, 226 

34 : 6 158 

Leviticus. 

13 = i2> 13 i75 

19 : 17 226 

J 9 : 19 3" 

20 : 27 259 

Numbers. 

9 : 2I 173 

10 : 29 183, 264 

13 : 3° *9°! 28 7> 3°5 

14:28-31 287 

14 : 40-45 307 

23 : 10 193 

23 : 23 166 

31 : 8 212 

3 2 : 23 254 

35:9-i5 308 

35 : 11 i74 

Deuteronomy. 

5 : 29 188 

6:7 188 



Deuteronomy. Page 

7 : 22 230 

29 : 29 284 

32 : 29 171, 175* 223 

32 : 31 189, 251 

32 : 35 203, 227 

33 : 26 158 

Joshua, 

1:6 188 

9 : 21 306 

10 : 6 313 

10 : 12 158 

13 : 1 254 

24 : 15 166, 181, 197, 254 

24 : 22 182, 224, 233 

Judges. 
4:3 293 

4 : 10 292 

5 : 16 263 

5 = 23 289 

14 : 15 181 

Ruth. 

1 : 16 228 

2:9 287 

2 : 12 304 

1 Samuel. 

3 : 13 ■ 251 

12 : 17 i73 

12 : 23 313 

12 ; 24 170 

22 : 2 167 

28 : 6, 7 284, 305 

2 Samuel. 

6 : 20-23 288 

7 : 25 230 

14 : 14 308 

17: 23 .175 

18 : 29 307 

19 = 11 307 

24 : 13 307 



316 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



1 Kings. Page 
8:57,58... 313 

14 : 6 175 

18:21 156, 174, 184, 189, 

205, 227, 24s, 257 

18 : 24 205 

18 = 30-38 82 

18 : 44 206 

18 : 17-46 307 

18 : 28 292 

19 :9 158 

19 : 19 206 

20 : 40 3°5 

22 : 8 223 

2 Kings. 

2 : 14 217 

3 : 16-25 83 

4:6 182 

4 : 26 181, 222 

4 : 34 288 

4: 36, 37 3i3 

5 : 3 3°9 

5 : 12 251 

6 : 16 304 

6 : 33 309 

7: 9 308 

10 : 3* 3*3 

17 : 19 173 

19 : 3 156 

1 Chronicles. 

12 : 33 308 

28 : 9 251 

29 : 5 305 

2 Chronicles. 

7 : 14 181, 241 

14 : 10-12 312 

15 : 8-15 288 

20 : 4 181 

23: 13 J 74 

32 : 25 232 

33 : 12, 13 257 

Ezra. 

7 : 22 292 

9 : 8 311 

Nehemiah. 

2 : 17, 18 181 

3 : 28 309 

3 : 30 309 



Nehemiah. Page 

7 180 

3 182, 259 

3 309 

10 189 



Esther. 



Job. 



4 

23-27 
14.. 
5 .... 
15-17 
21 . . . 

3,4-- 

4.... 
10 

29, 3° 
5-8 • 
i-3 ■• 
16... 

S 

56... 



Psalms. 



.181 
.306 



157 

.... 232 

204 

231 

265 

180 

179 

156 

■ 172, 174 
.... 252 
228 

J 75 

252 

225 

....245 
.225, 304 
234 



....175 
....311 

....174 
....213 

....174 
....192 

254 

180, 202 j 
....28 9 | 
...307 I 
....x 74 
....304 

-••• I7 ° 
210 

. . .224 

228 

....156 

....178 

....156 

....174 

.... 309 

. . . .227 

7 



Psalms. Page 

39 : 7 308 

40 : 1-3 238 

42 : 2 193 

43 = S 167 

45 : 10, 11 167 

46 : 1-6 166 

46 : 8 155 

49 : 8 .-. 254 

5 1 : 6 193 

51 : 8-10 172, 204 

51 : 10-13 265 

51 = 12, 13 253, 255,259 

52 : 8 225 

55 : 6 157 

57 : 8 175 

62 : 8 250 

65 : 2 228 

66 : 13, 14 .. 181 

6 7 = 1, 2 257 

69 : 9 188 

73 ■■ 20 155 

73 : 25 228 

74 : 12 156 

74 : 20 230 

77 ■ 3 180 

77 : 7 156 

77 •• 7, 8 154 

78 : 9 306 

80 : 18 311 

85:6 311 

89 : 14 228 

89 : 15 247 

90 : 8 179 

90 : 14 181 

94 : 9- 11 227 

94 : 16 188 

95 : 7, 8 172 

103 : 13 306 

104 : 1 251 

106 : 8 174 

107 : 8 229 

107 : 30 1 65*- 

110 : 3 297 

in : 10 233 

119 i33 

IJ 9 : 13 .--.255 

119 : 25 293, 311 

119 : 27 310 

119: 37 3" 

119 : 50 310 

119 : 58 , .246 

119 : 59, 60 183, 304 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



317 



Psalms. Page 

"9 : 59 2 72 

119 : 66 370 

119 : 75 3™ 

119 : 126 259 

119 * i39 304 

119 : 150, 151 310 

130 : 7, 8 250 

132 : 9 289 

132:16 289 

133 : 1 255 

138 : 6 228 

139 : 23, 24 i8t, 228 

142:4 201,254 

i43 -3 i73 

T44 = 3 229 

144 : 11, 12 238 

147 : 3 158 

147: 15-18 307 

147 : 20 155 

Proverbs. 

3:6 286 

3 : 25 251 

6:9 181 

11 : 30 291 

13 : 15 • 254 

16 : 33 311 

17 : 16 206 

18 : 14 252 

18: 18 283 

21 : 6 — 311 

21 : 30 304 

22 : 6 181 

22 : 9 250 

23 : 21 254 

23 : 29-35 283 

24 : 11, 12 309 

25 : 2 284 

25 : 25 247 

27 : 1 227 

28 : 19 250 

28 : 26 235 

'9:i 233 

29 : 25 238 

30 : 12 230 

Ecelesiastes. 

3:4 225 

7 : 16 167 

8:8 264 

8 ' II 225, 243 

9:3 225, 258, 305 



Ecclesiastes. Page 

9 : 14 229 

10: i5 305 

11 : 4 38, 308, 311 

12 : 1 167 

Song of Solomon. 

1:8 304 

2 : 12 211 

2 : 16 255 

4 : 16 290 

5 : 16 167 

8 : 4 290 

Isaiah. 

1:3 141, 204 

1:5 304 

1:9 168 

1 : 18 192 

1 : 28 192 

1 : 32 241 

2:3 229 

3 : IO > " 239 

4 : i* 2 239 

5 -4, 5 191 

5 : 12 284 

8 : 19, 20 285 

9 : 6 190 

24 : 15 255 

26 : 3> 4 250 

26 : 4 158 

26 : 19 311 

28 : 12 311 

28 : 16 232 

28 : 17 219, 225, 232, 235, 

292, 307 

29 : 8 310 

30 : 7 181 

3o: 15 312 

30 : 17 268, 312 

32 : 11 258 

32 : 13-19 233, 311 

32 : 16, 17 307 

32 : 20 140 

33 : 14 228 

35 = 8-10 172 

4° = 3 213, 309 

40 : 6-8 175 

40 : 11 239, 290, 304 

4° = 29-31 307 

40 : 31 231 

41 : 21 170 

42 : 3 157 



Ismah. Page 

42 : 16 172 

43 : 10 254 

43 : 12 230 

43 •" 25 220 

44 : 3i 4 213 

45 : 9 206 

45 = 22 157, 2^3 

47 :3 258 

47 : 7, 8 182 

49 : 25 291 

50 : 11 226, 259 

51 = 5 • 247 

5i = 9 3io, 312 

5i = 11 259 

5i : 14 3°9 

52 : 1 223 

52 : 3-6 240 

52 : 3 291 

53 = IO 174, 304 

53 = 1 3 12 

53 = 3 193. 207 

53:6 158 

53 = 10 175,247 

54 : 5 22, 164 

55 : 1 156, 175, 250 

55 : ^7 189, 248 

55 : 6. ..188, 207, 248, 250, 251 

55 : 10 157 

57 : 14 213 

57 : i5 3°8 

59 : 1, 2 265 

59 : 19 63, 156, 229 

60 : 8 229, 237, 239 

60 : 19, 20 167 

62 : 6 42 

62 : n 158 

63 : 1-6 231 

6 5 : 1 i74 

63 : 17-19 3" 

66 : 2 232 

66 : 3 304 

66 : 8 255 

Jeremiah. 

1:6 310 

2 : 13 305 

2 : 23 144 

2 : 25 258 

2 : 37 170 

3 :8 243 

3 : 23 247 

4 : 3. 4 250 



3i8 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



Jeremiah. Page 

6:4 171 

6 : 14 162, 175, 252 

6 : 16 157, 265 

6 •* 30 225 

8:6 174 

8 : 11 175,258 

8 : 20. . .22, 155, 168, 234, 255 
8 : 21, 22 292 

8 : 22 155 

10 : 5 .242 

13 : 16 170, 308 

13 : 27 291 

14:3 306 

17 : 18 246 

17 : 19 223 

18 : 1-6 164 

18 : 5, 6 218 

18 : 12 180 

22 : 24 180 

23 : 6 169 

26 : 24 180 

27 : 10 263 

29 : 12, 13 264, 312 

3i : 9 292 

31 : 18 175 

31 : 18-20 180, 232 

33 : 6 250 

50:4, S 255 

5° = 33, 34 250 

Lamentations. 

1 : 12 181 

4 : 2 311 

Ezeklel. 

2:7 223 

3 : 17-19 239 

9 = 3~ 6 171, 181 

15 : 1, 2 174 

15 : 2 4 227 

16 : 54 174 

16 : 63 230 

17 : 4 192 

17 : 22-24 231 

18 : 28 170 

18 : 23 264 

18 : 31 158, 204, 224, 264 

18 : 32 243 

21:9,10 312 

21 : 16 307 

22 : 14 227 

23-39 228 

33 : 1 188 



Ezekiel. Page 

5 174, 207 

7-9 223 

11 242, 247 

16 174 

25, 27 250 

25 21 

26, 27 310 

27 174 

37. 38 263 

1-10 156 

4 157, 191 

9 170, 228 

29 311 

11 293 

12 229 

23 312 

Daniel. 

8 188 

44, 45 2 3 t 

13, 14 191 

27.. 172, 180, 189, 239, 251 

18 308 

24 166 

Hosea. 

224 

172 

309 

1, 2 311 

2 170 

I 2 207, 254, 313 

8 i57 

32 188 

9 230, 249 

4 156 



i-3 
17- 

6.. 



Joel. 



Amos. 



.210, 225 
153 



12 .... 

2 

11, 12. 

I3---- 



254 
305 
•305 

3" 

.224 
.258 
.171 
•175 1 



Obadiah. Page 
Verses 3, 4. 304 

Jonah. 

1:6 . 180, 239 

1 : 12, 13 ■• -175, 246 

1 : x 3 304 

2:4 23c 

3 = 9 158 

4 : 5-ii 3" 

lUicali. 

2 : 7 309 

2 : 13 229, 2gi 

6 : 3 265 

6:8 212 

7 : 5-7 309 

7 : 18 208, 250, 308 

7 : 19 269 

Habakkuk. 

1 : 2 253, 259 

2 : 9-11, 15, 16 284 

3 = 2... ...174,213,254 

3 : 19 149 

5=3 259 

Zeplianlan. 

1 : 12 233 

Haggai. 

2:9 230 

Zecharlah. 

2:3 282 

2:4 222 

3 : 2 171 

3 : 9 232 

4 : 6, 7 223 

4:7 158 

4: 16 254 

5 : 5-ii 281 

7 = 13 3i3 

8 : 23 292 

9 : 11 158 

9 : 12 172 

12 : 10 249 

14 : 16-19 307 

Malachi. 

2:6 313 

3 : 10 254 

3 : 16 264 

4 : 5, 6 293 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



319 



8 



10 



Kaltbew. Page 

21 158, 166 

1-12 294 

13 

15 



i-ii. 

19... 
4.... 

6 



.297, 312 
....166 

295 

....165 
261, 270 

192 

272 



1 55. 



. 201 



25, 26 

25 187, 253 

34 166 

48 ... 226. 253 

2, 6, 17 213 

13 166 

20 188 

33 I55,i88 

14 156 

21 155, 247, 264 

21-23 2 49 

24 158 

3 156 

8 308 

13 156 

17 64 

8 : 19-22 158, 166, 252 

8 : 34 243 

9 : 2, 3 64, 306 

9 : 6 158 

9 : 12 233 

9: 13 157 

9 : 37, 38 175, 176 

o : 3 166 

23 3 12 

10 : 32, 33 296 

Jo : 35 258 

10 : 36-38 226 

11 : 12 241 I 

11 : 21 259 

11 : 28-30 Introd 166, 170, 

174, i75, 187 J 

11 : 28 192, 213, 247 ; 

249, 265, 298 

248 J 

297 ' 



ii 



29 ... 
10-13. 



Matthew. Page 

12: 22 294 

12 : 20 232 

12 : 30 ...222, 308 

12 : 43-45 184, 234 

12 : 47-50 306 

13 : 3-23 247 

13 : 7 159 

13 : 14 233 

13 : 28 305 

'3 : 31 1.55 

13 : 4i-43 2 45 

13 : 44 271 

13 : 58 213, 271 

14 : 16 175 

14 : 22-31 253 

14 : 26, 27 175 

14 : 3° I 76, 223 

14: 34-36 305 

15:6 224 

15 : 21, 22 294 

15 = 23 310 

15 : 28 172, 189, 250, 272 

16: 26 238 

16 : 37 229 

17: 8 175 

17: 15 310 

17:20 182 

18: 3 157 

18 : 11 252 

19: 16-22 248 

20 : 1 298 

20 : 6 240, 251,310 

20 : 29-34 214 

21 : 12-10 298 

21 : 28-32 305 

21 : 38 223 

22 : 1-13 248 

22: 4 155 

22: 5 232 

22 : 13 264 

22 : 22 296 

22 : 30 155 

22 : 37 254 

22 : 42 165, 175, 189, 229 

23 : 30 187 

23 : 33 180 

23 : 37 204, 224, 233 

24 : 12 296 

24 : 32, 33 218 

24 : 42 192 

25 248 

25 : 1-8 184 



Matthew. Page 

25 : 1-12 308 

25 : 2 186 

25: 3 155 

25 : 6 193, 229 

25 : 7 3°8 

25 : 8 246 

25 : 13, 29 166, 172 

25 : 26, 27 252 

25 : 31-40 249 

25 : 31-46 185, 248, 296 

25 : 32 296 

25 : 46 166, 227, 259 

26 : 28 189 

26 : 38 191 

26 : 58 296 

26 : 75 166 

27 : 4 282 

27 : 19 265 

27 : 22 196, 310 

2 7 : 42 259 

27 : 5 1 - 230,309 

28 : 5 158,273 

28 : 6 231, 251 

28 : 18 229 

37 : 36 264 

Mark. 

* : 15 i54, 158,308 

2 : 1-12 182 

2 : 5 209 

2 : 10 293 

3 : 20, 21 310 

4 : 25-38 157 

4:28 246 

4 : 40 209 

5 : 4 3°7 

5 : 18, 19 310 

5 : 19 209,255 

5:26 181,213 

5 : 3 6 238, 307 

7 : 27, 28 75 

8 : 22-25 294 

8:36,37 254 

9 : J 4 507 

9: 17 309 

9 : 38 i54 

9 : 44 155, J 8o 

10 : 14 180, 253 

10 : 22, 23 252 

10 : 46-52 174, 180, 253 

10 : 52 166, 248 

1 1 : 24 . . . 244 



3 2 ° 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



Mark. Page 

12 : 6 180, 233, 309 

12 : 28-34 264 

12: 34 i55 

13: 34 3" 

*5 : 13 251 

16 : 7 180, 228 

16 : 15 182 

16 : 16 157, 167, 251, 252 

16 : 15, 16 189 

17 = 17 3 12 

2^ : 20 176 

28 : 8 308 

Luke. 

1 : 17 =93 

1 : 78 229 

2 : 7 3™ 

2 : 10 222 

2 : n 118 

2 : 14 232 

2 : 26 244 

2 : 28 228 

3 : 14 167 

4 : 16-21 247 

4 : 18 15S, 189, 285 

4 : 18, 19 163 

4 : 42 181 

5: 5 176 

5:16-26 175 

5= 18-20 273 

5 : 20 188, 223 

5 = 32 190 

7 : "-13 236, 310 

7 : 16 310 

7 = 31-35 180, 225 

7 : 45 262 

7:47 15S 

7 : 48-50 252 

8 : 24 156 

8:35 298 

8 : 40 213, 306, 307 

8 : 43-4 8 3°8, 312 

9:5 262 

9 : 28-36 165, 166, 248 

9 = 32 3" 

9 : 42 173, 230, 308 

9 = 54, 55 ....187 

9 : 55, 56 157 

9= 59 187 

9 : 61 181, 252 

9 : 62 239, 252 

10 : 11 242 



Luke. Page 

to : 29 188 

10 : 38-42 248 

10 : 41 181 

10 : 42 156, 222, 306 

11:1-13 248 

11:5-8 305 

11 : 13 256 

11 : 21-23 299 

1 1 : 24-26 282, 308 

11 : 33 3° 8 

12 : 20 155, 190 

12 : 31 172 

12 : 31, 32 250 

12 : 40 .237 

12 : 47 23S 

13 : i-5 l8 7 

13 : 3 i fi 5 

13:6-8 2T 5 , 248 

13 : 7 247, 254 

13 : 23 155 

13 : 23, 24 264 

13 : 24 187, 199, 213 

13 : 25 187 

13 : 24-28 248 

13 : 28-30 238 

14 = J 3 3 10 

14 : 16-23 247 

14 : 18 187, 216, 251, 254 

14 : 19 J 76, 189 

14 : 22-24 ^St J 66, 298 

14 : 23 230, 308 

15 :i-7 3i3 

15 : 3-7 ^83, 248, 309, 313 

15 : 8-10. ..174, 181, 299, 311 

15 : ™-*7 235 

15 = n-24 299 

15 : 11-25 184, 212 

15 : n-32 247, 313 

i5 : 17 J 75 

15 : 17, 18 265 

15 : 18 181, 209, 254, 265 

15 : 20 174, 220, 239 

15 : 18-24 235 

15 : 36 189 

16 : 2 154, 225 

16 : 10 226 

16 : 15 226 

16 : 14 3°8 

16 : 16 228 

16 : 17 248 

l6:iO-26 ..: 248 

16 : 79-31 185. 236 



Luke. Page 

16 : 31 154,227, 285 

16 : 25 189 

16 : 26 237, 243 

16 : 27-31 232 

16 : 27-39 248 

16 : 32 236 

17 = 5 213 

17:10 226 

17 : 32 182, 228 

18 : 1 158 

18 : 9-14 190 

18 : 11, 12 299 

18 = 13 243 

18 : 14 167 

18 : 22 190 

18 : 36-38 272 

18:37. 265 

18 : 41, 42 306 

19 : 5 230, 312 

19 : 5-9 248 

19 : 9, 10 167, 174, 180, 189, 

247 
19 : 41, 42 156, 253 

19 : 58 3<-6 

20 : 27-36 248 

20 : 36 159 

22 : 31, 32 230 

22 : 54 258 

23 : 31 221 

23 : 39 l8 7, 309 

23 : 42 167 

23 ■ 42, 43 223 

23 : 47, 48 2l6 

23 : 48 3 10 

24 : 49 126 

John. 

1 : 12 3 10 

1 : 16 252 

1 : 29 249, 299 

1 : 35, 36 166 

1 : 41 J 88, 309 

2:2 167 

2 : 11 165 

2 : 15 22^ 

3: 1 248 

3:1-2 ■ 30 6 

3:3 167, 174, 181, 182, 

223, 2=3 
3:7 154, 186, 194, 253 

3 : 8 307 

3 : 10 167 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



321 



John. Page 

3 : 14 243 

3 : 14, 15... 189, 214, 225, 246 

3 : 16-18.. 166, 167, 172, 222, 

225, 228 

3 : l6 2 32> 238, 239 

3 : 18 175 

3 = 35 ■ 229 

4:S-9 275 

4:6 306 

4: 13, I4-. • 248 

4: 20 305 

4:28,29 275 

4 : 29 187, 229, 311 

4 : 35 3"> 355 

4 : 36 308 

4 : 37 264 

4 : 42 209 

4 : 49 213 

5 : i-9 i75, 248 

5 = 3-9 165 

5:3 253 

5:4 1 226 

5:6 209 

5 :23 -285 

5 : 25 157, 230 

5 : 39 x 9i 

5 : 40 106, 257 

6 : 26-34 247 

6 : 35-4o 247 

6:37 180, 220, 243 

6:44-50 247 

6 : 63 293 

6 : 66-68 223, 259 

6:67 247 

6 : 68 252 

7 : 37 247 

7 : 38 156, 165 

8:36 175 

8:46 155 

8 : 48,49 285 

8 : 56 229 

9 248 

9 : 4 192, 251, 299 

9:6 66 

9: 25 310 

9 : 35 163, 256 

10 : 1 259 

10 : 7-11 248 

10 : 11 156 

10 : 27, 28 167 

11 248 

" : 25 129, 155 



John. Page 

11 : 39 188 

" :42 156 

11 : 43-44 308 

12 : 21 239 

12 : 32, 33 225 

12 : 36 306 

12 : 37 310 

12 : 42 157 

12 : 43 226 

12 : 44-48 249 

13:34 305 

14 : 1-6 248 

14 : 3 308 

14: I5-I7 250 

14 : 16, 17 232 

14 : 17 188 

15 : 5 209 

15 : 22 174 

15 : 23 306 

15 : 25 225 

16 : 7-13 226, 304 

16 : 9, 14 22 

16 : 13-15 232 

16 : 14 300 

16 : 22 306 

16:32 193 

l6 :33 157, 231, 255 

16 : 37 •••• 243 

17 : 3 158, 165 

18 : 6 219 

18 : 40 171 

19 : 5 173, 300 

T 9 : 30 231 

19 : 34 157 

20: 11-18 224 

20 : 20 276 

20:29 167 

21 : 15 304 

21 : 17 176 

Acts. 

1 : 5-- 223 

1:8 177 

1 : 14 306 

2 : 1-40 247 

2=3! : 159 

2 : 36-39 248 

2 : 37 ao9 v 255 

2 : 40 300 

2 : 42-47 312 

3 : 14, 15 223 

3 : 19.. 249, 212,255, 259, 3" 



Acts. Page 

21 231 

11 227 

Si 126, 154 

157 

236 

230 

300 

248 

3°7 

284 

167 

309 



38,39- 
34 • • - • 
51 •■■• 
5-8... 



22, 23 

26-39 

39 

5 202, 233 

11 190 

32-35 J 74 

34 247 

36 175, 3io 

44 176 

18 223, 300 

20, 21 300 

26 182 

10 96 

26 229, 230, 254 

38-40 238 

41 J 9i 

9. 10 J 75 

9 244 

16-33 ..248 

27 310 

3°> 3 1 246 

30 157, l8 i, 190, 2I 3> 

225, 226, 243 

31 175 

6 174, 312 

16 . 212 

17 212 

23 158 

26, 27 252 

30 156, 223, 232, 243, 

264, 300 

31 227, 232 

32 212 

33 2J 2 

34 

17 



212 

159 

2 165, 188 



•239 
.312 
.166 
.248 
.249 



23 ... • 

28 ... . 
1-12 .. 
18, 19. 



20 : 21 252, 308 



322 

Acts. Page 

20 : 26 254 

20 : 32 311 

22 : 16 158 

23 : 8 284 

24 : 25 . . 181, 213, 244, 256, 258 

24 : 26 311 

26 : 8 157, 254 

26 : 14 174 

26 : 17, 18 250 

26 : 18 265 

26 : 19 305 

26 : 24 154, 204 

26:28 153, 165, 181,209, 

213, 258 

27 : 9 301 

27 : 15 30^ 

27 : 3 1 2 54 

27 : 43 3 QI 

35 = 38, 39 236 

Romans. 

1:1 193 

1:8 254, 301 

1 : 16 233, 252 

1 : 17 169, 233, 252 

1 : 20 195 

1 : 25 285 

2:4 309 

3:8 196 

3:9 2 44 

3 : 19-22 227 

3 : 20 181, 252 

3 : 24 252 

3 : 25, 26 225 

3 : 31 226 

4 : 5 J 57i 227 

4 : 14 J 9° 

5 : 1. 2 251 

5 : 8 193, 226 

5 : 10 227 

5 : " 3i2 

5 : iS 2 3i 

5 : 17- ■ 233 

6:11 159, 226 

6 : 2-3 225 

7 226 

7:4 226 

7:6 171, 186 

7 : '8 157 

8 : 6, 7 250 

8:7 173, 210, 213, 260 

8 : 33 ■••■•254 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 

Romans. Page 

8 : 21 312 

8 : 31 230 

8 : 32 154, 250 

8: 38, 39 172 

9: i-3 265 

9 : 18 228 

9 : 22, 23 233 

9 : 30-33 226 

10 : 4 312 

11 : 10 305 

12 : 1 181 

12 : 2 226 

12 : 6 65 

13 : 10 226 

13 : 11 l8 3i 233, 254,310 

14 : 9 192 

14 : i° 154 

14 : 12 246 

14 = 17 *57, 162 

14 : 23 226 

15 : 13 312 

1 Corinthians. 

1 : 3, 4 i93 

1 : 23, 24 193 

1 : 23 159, 171, 223 

1 : 27 159! 190 

1 : 29-31 227 

1 : 30. .156, 167, 223, 230, 264 

2 : 2 165, 265 

2 : 11 165 

2 : 14 223 

3 : 7 233 

5 : 10 240 

5 = 17 223 

6 : 10 283 

6: 11 165 

6 : 19, 20 232 

6 : 20 177 

9 = 27 305 

10 : 4 231 

10 : 12 157 

10 : 20 209 

12 : 6 188 

12 : 9 6j 

12 : 20, 21 259 

13 : 1 285 

13 : 3 155 

13 : 5 226 

13:8 165 

14 : 3 3ot 

15 = 3 189. '93.225 



1 Corinthians. Page 

15 : 25 191 

15 = 34 277 

15 =45 3ii 

15 : 5 6 2 45 

2 Corinthians. 
2 : 14 '...2-5 

2 : 17 166 

3^5 255 

3:2 250 

3:8 . 259 

3 : 17 153, 158, 240, 254 

4 : 2 226 

5:7 252 

5 : 8 230 

5 : 10 17° 

5 : 11 212 

5 : 14 254 

5 : 17 166, 171, 222, 249, 

252, 254 

5: 18 155 

5 : 20 185, 164 

6:1 * 156 

6:2 156, 181, 222,223, 

243, 244 

6:9 178 

6:16 166 

7 : 9-" 252 

7 : 3i 192 

9 : 13 308 

13 : 5 166, 226 

13 : 11 233, 255, 312 

13 : 14 i55 

15 : 1-4 260 

15 : 10 180 

16 : 22 224 

17 : 10 2*6 

Galatians. 

1 =4 209 

1 : 16 230 

2 : 16 226 

2 : 19 230 

2 : 20 169, 230 

3 : 10, 11 250 

3 : 10 174 

3 = 19 251 

3 : 22 157 

3 : 24 277 

4 = 4" 6 239 

4:7,8 238 

4=1=? 243 

4 : 18 154 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



3 2 3 



Galatians. Page 

5: 18 3" 

5:24 l8 5 

6 : 4 2 i J 

6:7-9 190 

6 : 7, 8 265 

6 : 9 190, 302 

6 : 10 255 

6 : 14 254 

Ephesians. 

1 : 45 225 

2'4, 5 232 

2:8 153 

2 : 13 257 

3 : 10 227 

3 : 18 .: 253 

4:3 254 

4 : 19 264 

4:3° 243 

5 : 14 2 12 , 223, 243, 310 

5 • 18 166, 253 

5 : 18-20 278 

6:10-21 170 

6 : 11 213 

6 : 16 232 

Philippians. 

1 :9 158 

1 : 27, 28 163 

1 : 28 254, 259 

2 : 6-11 251 

2 : 7. 8 193 

2: 12 175 

3:8 224 

3 : 10 164, 193, 309 

3 : 18 209 

4:8 251 

Colossian«. 

1 : 18 220 

1 : 19 245 

1 : 20 252 

1 : 26-28 2^3 

1 : 27, 28 250 

2:6 157, 230 

3:1 19 2 

3 : 3 231 

3 : 17 66, 279 

1 Thessalonians. 

1 : 5-7 182, 312 

2 : 16 227 

4:8 156 

4: 13-17 248 



1 Thessalonians. 

Page 

5 = 6 1/4 

5 : 16-18 244 

5 : 19 213, 226, 245 

5 : 23 180 

5 : 25 166 

2 Thessalonians* 

2:10 308 

2 : 13, 14 250 

2 : 16, 17 190 

3:2 ... 209 

1 Timothy. 

1 : 5 285 

1 : 15 172, 191, 250, 311 

1 : 19 254 

2 : 4 157 

2:6 157 

2 : S 231 

3 : 6 306 

6 : 4 3" 

6 : 12 178, 250, 264 

2 Timothy. 

1 : 11 232 

2 : 1 250 

2:3 192 

2 : 26 310 

3:5 250 

3:8 284 

3 ■ 12 163 

3 : 15 306 

3:16 188 

4: 5 255 

4:7 191 

4 : 21 307 

Titus. 

2 : ™ 303 

2 : J 4 249 

3:5 252 

Philemon. 

Verse 11 313 

" 15 212 

Hebrews. 

1 : 14 286 

2 192 

2 : 1-3 .248 

2 : 3 158, 184, 254, 259 

2 : 10 231 

2 : 14 245 

3:8 155, 180, 209 



Hebrews. Page 

3 = 15 239 

3 : 18 259 

4:2 224 

4:3 226 

4:4 167 

4 = 15 155 

5:9 231 

6 : 1 67, 245, 2^4 

6 : 9 i77 

6 : 12 264 

7 : 25 156, 250 

8 : 10 250 

9 : 10 231 

9 : 14 231 

9 : 22 175, 189 

: 19 158 

26 244 

30 112 

3i i5S> 209, 243 

35 T57 

1 169 

4 302 

4-25 191 

6 252 

13, 14 228 

17-19 164 

24-26 264 

25 198, 305 

1 : 30 308 

1 --3* i74,3o8 

2: 1 254 

2 : 2 157, 158,192 

2 : 20 265 

2 : 22, 23 172 

2 : 22-24 306 

2 : 24 174 

3 = 8 230 

3 : '3 209 

James. 

1 : 22-24 •• -3 T 3 

1 : 23 254 

1 = 27 191 

2 : 19 228 

4 :3 264 

4:7 226, 259 

4:8 2=50 

5: 15 64 

5 : 16 254 

5 : 17,18 308 

5 : 19,20 172, 226 

5 : 20 552 



3 2 4 



IXDEX OF TEXTS. 



1 Peter. Page 

i : 18, 19 .193 

2:7 250, 255 

2 : 24 231 

2 : 25 306 

4 : i7 156 

4 : 18 224, 232, 243 

5:8 302, 312 

2 Peter. 

i : 1 251 

1 : 21 251 

2:5 l6 7 

2:19 225 

3 :3 3i3 

3:4 312 

3 : 14 193 

3 : 18 246 

1 J0I111, 

1:5 158, 3 oS 

1 : 7 158, 302 

2 : 1, 2 226 

3 : 1 246 

3 = 2 251 

3 • 3 254 



1 John. Page 
3 = 8 159 

3 : 14 *9° 

4 = 8 302 

4 : 10 247 

4 : 16 189, 228 

4 •' 19 2 3° 

5 = 4 155 

2 John. 

Verse 8 156 

Jade. 

Verses 20, 21 182 

Revelation. 

1:7 x 93 

2:2-5 168, 169, 174 

2 : 5 2 57 

2 : 10 247 

2 : 17 247 

2 : 21 182, 313 

3: 7 303 

3 : I& 16 232 

3: 16 -*77 

3: 17 261 

3 : 20. . . 32, 156, 186, 232, 248 

252, 264, 265, 280 



Revelation. Page 

3 = 21 223 

3 : 22 281 

5 : 5, 6 227 

5 •' 9 230 

6 : 7, 8 239 

7 : 17 229 

8 : 10, 11 283 

8 : 13 224 

12 : 7, 8 251 

12 : 12 313 

!4 = i 159 

14 : 6 ig, 191 

14 : 14-20 8 

16 : 13-15 313 

18 : 20 227 

19 : 6 251 

19 : 10 190 

20 : 4, 5, 6, 12 175 

20 : 11 156, 169 

20 : 12 159 

22 : 17.. 159, 175, 244,265,303 

22 : 20 159, 304 

22 : 21 168, 313 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



A. 

Abel, 302. 

Admonition, Evangelists seldom re- 
ceive, 133. 

Adulteration of food and medicine, 311. 

Advent, second, 304. 

Afflicted, John 11 : 28, 29, 310. 

Age not a disqualification for revival 
service, 121. 

Agents not to be allowed to withdraw 
attention, 107. 

Alternative views, 266, 267, 269 ; 289, 290. 

Amusements, Eccles. 3 : 8, 223, 255 ; Ezek. 
21 : 9, 10, 312. 

Angelology, 286. 

Annual ingatherings, xiii.; method of 
work in,xiv.-xvi.; evangelists as auxil- 
iaries in,xiv.; Dr. Newell's experience, 
xiv.-xvi. ; evangelistic service in, xiv.- 
xvi.; examples of, xvi.; mistakes about, 
xvii.-xix. 

Annual revivals, most common in cities, 
xvii., xviii., xix. 

Anxious seat, or penitent's bench, 78-83 ; 
the question of, need not be decided at 
the outset, 78 ; demonstrations not to 
be urged in a promiscuous assembly, 78. 

Anxious seat, objections to, 84, 85. 

Apes, are some of the votaries of " the 
higher criticism " becoming? xi. 

Apology for imperfect churches, 305. 

Applications not made a study ; neglected 
in practice, xvii. 

Ardor, natural, not necessary, 120. 

Arminianism and Calvinism, 24. 

Armor, Christian, 170. 

Arnold, Thomas, misadvised ; his son 
Matthew an example of rationalism 
gone to seed, xxi., xxii. 

Art in excess, 32. 

Atonement, prominence of, 265. 



Attention, diverting from the matter in 

hand, 106, 107. 
Awakenings reveal the snares of Satan, 

B. 

Babyhood, spiritual, 116. 

Backsliders, 257, 258 ; Psalm 119 : 59, 
272 ; Matt. 26 : 58, 296, 310 ; sermons 
to, Wesley, Psalm 77 : 7, 8, 154 ; 
Hosea 14 : 4, 156 ; Hosea n : 18, 157 ; 
White field, Matt. 26 : 75, 166 ; Stur- 
geon, Rev. 2 : 4, 174 ; Swan, Rev. 
3 : 16, 177 ; Exod. 4 : 2-4, 178 ; Payson, 
Mark 16 : 7, 180 ; Moody, 190 ; Knapp 
{H. W.), 1 Kings 19 : 19, 206 ; Griffin, 
Luke 13 : 6-8, 215 ; Gen. 8:8, 9, 217 ; 
Frelinghuysen, Rev. 8 : 13, 224 ; Fin- 
ney, 226 ; Gal. 4 : 15, 243 ; may return, 
308. 

Beacon, a small church may be a, 268. 

Beginning of revival, Psalm 132 : 9, 289. 

Bengel on the parable of the Good Shep- 
herd, the Lost Piece of Silver, and the 
Prodigal Son, 313. 

Berridge as a preacher, 249. 

Bible readings, 182, 189, 190, 191, 222, 
223, 283. 

Bible, what kind of preaching creates an 
aversion to, 42. 

Bird, soul flying as a, 289. 

Blindness partially removed, 294. 

Bold preaching a test of a gracious state, 

45- 

Booth and the " Salvation Army," 44. 

Borrowing, the Hebrew prophets* exam- 
ples of, 149 ; by rationalists, 148. 

Breaker, Christ as the, 229, 291, 292. 

Brevity of divisions, 32: 

Bribery, 311. 

Burns, Rev. W. C, 297. 

Business, making a, of winning souls, xvi. 



326 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



Calls for demonstration should not be 
made without assurance of response, 83 ; 
Dr. Kirk's advice about, 83. 

Calvinism and Arminianism, 24. 

Cant and formality, 12. 

Chamber, repairing the wall over against, 
Neh. 3 : 30, 309. 

Charity profitable to those who possess 
gifts, 128. 

Children in revivals, 72-77 ; the Gospel 
for all who can understand it, 72 ; our 
Sunday-schools do not educate the 
conscience as they ought, 72 ; power of 
sympathy, 72 ; faculty of imitation, 

73 ; the power of drill, 73 ; exceptional 
cases, 73, 74 ; some children nearer the 
Sun of Righteousness than we think, 

74 ; impartial testimony needed, 74 ; 
memoir of a little boy, 75 ; murmurs 
about delay, 75 ; a voice heard by 
Myconius, 76. 

Children, conversion of, 113-116, 181, 
287, 310; test on, Psalm 24 : 11,210; 
supremacy of, 116. 

Choice demanded, 306. 

Choice of themes, excessive caution in, 38. 

Cities, great, advantages of, for revival 
work, xix. 

Cities, commercial sins of, 305. 

City pastor laboring in destitute places, 6. 

Church-members, sermons addressed to, 
Wesley, 1 Peter 4 : 17, 156 ; Rom. 
12 : 1 and other texts, 181 ; Gal. 5 : 24, 
185 ; Neh. 1 : 4, 187 ; Mark, 2 : 5, 209 ; 
Num. 31 : 8, 212 ; also Finney's lect- 
ures, 226 ; Luke 14 : 23, 230, 231 ; 
- Matt. 12 : 20, 232 ; 1 Thes. 5 : 16-18 ; 
Luke 2 : 16, 244 ; Matt. 25 : 8, 246 ; Matt. 
7 : 21, 247, 249, 250, 252 ; Eph. 5 : 18, 
2 53 ; John 16 : 33, 255, 258 ; John 6 : 66- 
68, 259 ; Matt. 5:6; Rev. 3 : 17, 261 ; 
Judges 5 : 16, 263, 270 ; Ezek. 36 : 37^ 38, 
263-265-273-288, 289 ; Eph. 5 : 18-20, 
278 ; Rev. 3 : 20, 280 ; Rev. 3 : 22, 281 ; 
Gen. 44 : 12, 286 ; Num. 13 : 30, 287 ; 
Matt. 12 : 12, 297 ; Gen. 32 : 26, 304 ; 2 
Kings 6 : 16, 304 ; Psalm 23 : 3 ; Can- 
ticles 1 : 8, 304 ; Isa. 23 : 4, 305 ; Exod. 
16 : 21, 305 ; Gen. 17 : 3, 306 ; Psalm 
78 : 9, lb. ; Josh. 9 : 21, 306 ; Acts 
1 : 14, 306; Psalm 103 : 13, 306; 



Psalm 147, 15-18, 307 ; Num. 14 : 40-45, 
307 ; Acts 27 : 15,309. Active and pass- 
ive members, Acts 27 : 43, 301 ; Gal. 
6 : 9, 302. 

Church, preaching to, much blessed, 25. 

Church not a mere school for the intel- 
lect, 114. 

Climax, 33. 

Close of revival service, sermons for, 
Wesley, Jer. 8 : 20, 155 ; Acts 17 : 30, 
156 ; Luke 19 : 42, 156 ; Psalm 77 : 7, 
x 56 ; John 12 : 42, 157 ; Whitefield, 
farewell sermon, 163 ; Gen. 28 : 12-15, 
168 ; John 10 : 27, 28, 168 ; Acts 20 : 17- 
35; Rev. 22:21, 168; Stimmerfield, 
Hos. 4 : 17, 172 ; Isa. 35 : 8-10, 172 ; 
Spurgeon, Amos 9 : 13, 175 ; Matt. 
14 : 16, 175 ; Maffitt, Acts 13 : 41, 
191 ; Humphrey, Matt. 13 : 58, 213 ; 
Griffin, Luke 23 : 47, 48, 216 ; Jer. 
18 : 5, 6, 218 ; John 18 : 6, 219 ; Hos. 
13 : 9, 230 ; Rom. 8 : 37, 230 ; Col. 3 : 3, 
231 ; Matt. 13 : 14, 233 ; Jer. 8 : 20, 
234 ; Isa. 60 : 8, 239 ; Zech. 14 : 16-19, 
307 ; Acts 8 : 8, 307 ; 21 : 28-32, 305 ; 
Luke 10 : 42, 305 ; John 4 : 36, 309 ; 
Isa. 53 : 1. 312. (See End of revivals.) 

Coaxing and auctioneering, 43. 

Complacency or else compassion, 296. 

Cold, correct man, 120. 

Continual revivals, xiii. ; advantages of, 
xiii. ; reaction prevented, xiii. 

Controversy, discouragements arising 
from, 124. 

Converts, 1 Cor. 9 : 27, 305, 306 ; 1 Tim. 
3:6, 306 ; 1 Peter 2 : 25, 306 ; Heb. 12 : 
22-24, 306 ; 2 Cor. 9 : 13, 308 ; Acts 11 : 23, 

By- 
conversions and ingatherings distinguish- 
ed, 43- 
Criticism of the Lower Empire, xi. 
Critics, the blunders of, 35. 
Croakers working miracles, Rev. 16 : 13- 

15, 3*3- 
Current errors to be met, 20. 

o. 

Daily service, advantages of, xv., xvi. 
Darkness before dawn, 124, 310. 
Death not always a means of grace, 31. 
Degeneracy, xi. 
Dependence on instruments, 12. 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



327 



Devil fish, catching, 108. 
Disappointment, 238. 
Discouragements, 117. 
Disorder in revivals, how checked, xv. 
Dissipation, religious, how avoided, xx., 

12. 
Disturbers and rioters, 95. 
Divine side of revivals, 19. 
Doctrines of grace as tests of conversion, 

45, 4 6 - 

Doctrines to be emphasized, 20 ; to be in- 
culcated, 23. 

Dove, emblem of the Holy Spirit, 211. 

Duff on city missions, 6. 



Edwards, Jonathan, his manner of 
preaching, 227. 

Eliot, President, one-sidedness of, 148,149. 

End of a revival is to glorify God, 18, 19 ; 
Judges 5 : 23, 289 ; Psalm 132 : 16, 289. 
{See Close of revivals.) 

Erring women, Luke 5 : 32, 190. 

Evangelism enlarging its sphere, xxvii. ; 
its means and methods found to be 
successful among the heathen, xxvii. 

Evangelist, the primitive, 137 ; his rela- 
tion to the pastor, 138 ; he cannot 
transfer his own responsibility to the 
pastor, 138 ; he is to work with the pastor 
on the footing of fraternal equality, 139 ; 
disparaged, 140. 

Evangelistic service, how conducted, xv., 
xvi. 

Evils and abuses, 104. 

Evolution and degeneration, xi. 

Exaggeration, 105. 

Excitement followed by lethargy, xiii. 

Excuses, Job 40 : 8, 225 ; Isa. 28 : 17, 219 ; 
Luke 14 : 18, 251, 254 ; Acts 17 : 32, 212, 
216. 

Exhortation to be joined to instruction. 43. 

Expedients, 79 ; advantages of the anx- 
ious-seat, 79-81, Mr. Paker's practice, 79, 
80 ; two objections, 80 ; should unbeliev- 
ers be admitted to the inquiry-room, 81 ; 
importance of preliminary prayer, 81, 82; 
Dr. Porter's views, 82 ; methods of sep- 
arating a congregation into classes, 82 ; 
should not be allowed to degenerate into 
drill, 83 ; requires a high degree of feel- 
ing, 83. 



Expedients are human, temporary, and 
changeable, 83. 

Explosive materials gathered by incessant 
excitement, xx. 

Extemporaneous speech not always neces- 
sary, 49. 

F. 

Fainting and falling, 98 ; do not remove 

those who fall, 98, 99. 
Faith, 169 ; cometh by fearing, 294. 
Family religion, Esther 8 : 6, 222, 306. 
Families, 258, 264, 293, 294. 
Fanaticism, 104. 
Farewell sermons, Rom. 14 : 4, 190, 250, 

276, 3 11 , 312, 3*3- 
Fallow ground to be broken up, 26. 
Fathers invited into the ark, 259, 287, 293. 
Fear as well as hope to be addressed, 30. 
Fear of God to be promoted, 19, 20. 
Felix as a bribe-taker, 311. 
Fishers of men, 295. 
Fencing the tables, 231. 
Finney's way of meeting error, 20, 21. 
Flattery and vanity, no. 
Foresight denied, 18. 
Formalism adverse to revivals, xii., xiii. 
Full assurance, 109. 
Fulness of the Spirit, 127, 128. 
Funerals versus revivals, 107. 

G. 

Gambling, Prov. 18 : 18, 283. 

Getting ahead of God, 123. 

Gifts, a diversity of, 44. 

God glorified by a true revival, Ps. 85 : 6, 

3"' 
Golden time to learn to speak, xv. 
Grace, power of, Isa. 40 : 31, 230 ; cannot 

have too much, 292 ; resisted, withers, 

Isa. 40 : 7, 307 ; better than gift's, 114 ; 

itself not means merely, no. 
Great sermons not to be attempted, 37, 38. 

H. 

Habakkuk borrows of David, 149. 
Harms, Ludwig, xvi. 
Harrison's methods, 44. 
Heresy may be kept in abeyance, 135. 
Hill, Rowland, and the bully, 96. 
Holiness, progressive, Deut. 7 : 22, 230. 
Holy Spirit as a dove, 211, 212 ; seeking 
the lost soul, 311 ; and dry bones, 228 ; 



328 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



grieved, 243 ; resisted, 300, 307 ; sin 
against, 222 ; sometimes applies a sub- 
ject in an unexpected way, 38, 39 ; leads 
to Christ, 22. 

Home revivalism carried to all parts of 
the world, xxvii. 

Hope and fear to be addressed, 25. 

Hope, obtaining, 104. 

Hypocrites, 228. 

I. 

Ideal, beautiful, how made real, xvi., 
xvii.; in order to, sermons must have 
applications, xvii. 

Ignorance causes difficulty, Jer. 13 : 16, 
308. 

Illogical thinking may save a preacher 
from a wrong application, 24. 

Inconstancy and vibrations of feeling, 111. 

Individual experience, ix., xxiv. 

Individual exertion, 275. 

Inferences, false, from good effects, 135, 
136. 

Infidelity, 195. 

Infirmities, why Paul took pleasure in, 
130. 

Ingatherings, what they mean, 42. 

Inquirers, 84-90 ; Eccles. 10 : 15, 305 ; 
ways of finding out who are awakened, 
84 ; and the anxious-seat, objections, 
84, 85 ; the inquiry-room substituted, 
85 ; meetings at the parsonage, 86 ; how 
to instruct inquirers, 86, 87 ; what ad- 
vice is safe, 88 ; rule and method not 
to be required here, 88 ; Mr. Moody's 
way of conducting inquiry meetings, 88, 
8 9 ._ 

Inquiry-meetings, Bible readings at, 90. 

Insane and feeble-minded, 100 ; how to 
silence, 100-103. 

Insanity, Acts 26 : 24, 25 ; Eccles. 9 : 3, 
225-258. 

Intemperance 254. {See Temperance.) 



Judgment of charity, 106. 

K. 
Kirk, opinions of, 23. 

I*. 

Lambs feeding, 113 ; neglected, 113. 

Lamb of God, 299. 

Lamb slain as an atoning sacrifice, 267. 



Law and Gospel to be combined, 20, 301. 

Law, our child-leader, 277. 

Letters and tracts, how to employ, 92, 93 ; 
of much service in revivals, 93. 

Liberty and variety in preaching, 141. 

Little, W. J. K., 191. 

Livingstone at the Kirk of Shotts, 122. 

Love and lights 302, 303. 

Love, preaching the truth in, 27, 105 ; two 
offices of, 296. 

HI. 

McIlvaine, 108. 

Madness of mankind, 305. 

Majorities in favor of revival services not 
to be sought, 11,12. 

Matter of sermons, 23, 24. 

Means and methods, ordinary and extra- 
ordinary, 30, 273, 274 ; use of, as prayer, 
312. 

Memoranda and brief partitions, 32, 299. 

Memory, refreshed by familiar facts, xxv. 

Mercy and judgment, 8. 

Meroz cursed, 289. 

Missing link, xi. 

Missions and revivals, Isa. 52 : 10, 304 ; 
4, xxvii. 

Moody and Sankey in England, 32. 

Muscular Christianity, 97. 

N. 

Narratives of revivals, value of, as 

means of awakening, xxvi. 
Naturalness, 32. 

Negligence not to be indulged, 33. 
New commandment, 305. 
Newell, Rev. Dr., his book commended, 

xvi. 
Novices, 108. 
Numbers without unity, xx. 

©. 

Obligation, cords of, 311. 

Opportune, sermons must be, 37, 38. 

Ordinary means of grace neglected, 106. 

Originality and borrowing, xxiv. : the ex- 
ample of scientific writers ; Burns's use 
of Edwards's sermon, xxiv. ; copying 
versus imitation, xxiv. 



Parables addressed to under-shepherds, 
124. 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



3 2 9 



Parents, Deut. 5 : 29, 188 ; John 4 : 49, 213 ; 
2 Kings 2 : 14,217; 1 Sam. 3: 13,251, 
258 ; Mark 5 : 36, 307 ; Matt. 8 : 8, 308 ; 
Mark 9 : 17, 309 ; Luke 7 : n-13, 310 ; 
to help their children in the ways of 
Christ, 2 Kings 4 : 36, 37, 313. 

Party spirit to be guarded against, 134. 

Pastor, the true, will not disdain the aid 
of the evangelist, 143. 

Pastors to co-operate with evangelists, 
137-143 ; the ox and the ass, Isa. 32 : 
20, 140, 141. 

Pastors who have done good evangelistic 
work in their churches, 141. 

Pastors are not to neglect their own duties 
while assisted by evangelists, 139. 

Pharisee, 299. 

Philosophy not to be preached, 27. 

Philpot quoted, 32. 

Physical manifestations and seizures, 99. 

Political troubles, 109. 

Power of God may prevail over many 
bad means and measures, 135. 

Power, waiting for, 126-130 ; not a per- 
manent force, 126 ; new investitures, 
126 ; scripture views of, 127. 

Prayer the right arm of revivalism, 9 ; 
secret, rewards of, xxi. ; of doubt heard, 
308 ; of imperfect men, 308 ; of despair 
heard, 306 ; importunate, Hab. 1 : 2, 
z 53 \ J°b 2 7 : IO , 22 8. 

Prayer as a preparation for a revival, 3 ; 
as a sign, 16. 

Prayer cure, 62-71 ; in the present and in 
the past, 62 ; the advocates of the faith 
cure, 51 ; why revived in our day, 63 ; 
opposed to materialism, 63 ; the efficacy 
and application of the Divine Sacrifice, 
63, 64 ; how far we resemble the primi- 
tive churches in our relation to the 
world, 64 ; did the gift of healing pass 
away with the Apostles ? 64 ; argument 
from probability, 65 ; testimony of 
honest witnesses, 65 ; the use of oil, 66, 
70, 71 ; the prayer of faith, 66, 67 ; the 
laying on of hands, 67 ; calling for the 
elders, 6j, 69 ; a churchly not a cleri- 
cal rite, 69 ; must recognize exceptional 
cases, 69 ; Dr. Gordon's caution, 70 ; 
abuse of the rite, 67, 71 ; the prayer 
cure not unfriendly to medical science, 
71 ; St. Luke set no limits to the heal- 
ing power of God, 71, 



Prayer exchanged for praise, 7 ; power 
of, 218, 272. 

Prayer-meetings as preparations, 17 ; to 
be reformed, 4. 

Praying devils are scarce, 102. 

Preaching, amount of, 40 ; can there be 
too much? 40; the question answered, 
40-42 ; frequent when necessary, 45 ; 
in revivals aims at immediate results, 
45 ; of pastors improved by evangelists, 

, 141 ; one-sided view of, xix. ; effects of 
collecting materials without converting 
them into a building, xx. ; true ends of. 
xix. 

Premature joy and rejoicing, 25, 26. 

Preparation for an awakening, 123 ; by 
preaching, 21 ; should not be noisy, 12 ; 
outlines for, by Wesley, Amos 3 : 6, 153 ; 
Mark 9 : 38, 154 ; Psalm 73 : 20, 155 ; 
Matt. 16 : 24, 155 ; Matt. 16 : 26, 155 
Psalm 147 : 20, 155 ; Matt. 3 : 2, 156 ; 
Matt. 6 : 33, 156 ; Jer. 6 : 16, 157 ; Zech. 
4 : 7, 158 ; Eph. 5 : 18, 166 ; Welch, 
Rev. 2 : 2-5, 168 ; Woodhouse, various 
texts, 170 ; Spencer, Psalm 51 : 8-10, 
172 ; Tyng, Amos 4 : 12, 171 ; Spurgeon, 
Heb. 3 : 2, 174 ; Matt. 9 : 37, 38, 175 ; 
Swan, same text, 176; Mark 26:20, 
177 ; Acts 1 : 8, 177 ; Gen. 45 : 20, 178 ; 
Payson, Psalm 90 : 8, 179 ; Parker, 
Neh. 2 : 17, 18 and other texts, 181 ; 
JVeltleton, Rom. 13 : 11, 183 ; Moody, 
John 11 : 39, 188 ; Knapp (7.), Acts 
26 : 24, 204 ; Little (W. % K.), 192-3 ; 
Knapp (H. W.), 1 Kings 18 : 44, 206 ; 
Hos. 10 : 12, 207 ; Matt. 9 : 37, 208 ; 
John 4 : 42, 209 ; Acts 2 : 27, 209 : 
Kirk, 210; Krummacher, Canticles 
2 : 12, 211 ; Hole (S. i?.), Isa. 30 : 17, 
212 ; Humphrey, Isa. 40 : 3 and other 
texts, 213 ; Matt. 16 : 26, 222 ; Luke 
16 : 2, 225 ; Psalm 139 : 23, 24, 228 ; 
Micah 2 : 13, 229 ; 1 Cor. 3 : 7, 233 ; 
Josh. 24 : 22, 233 ; 2 Chron. 7 : 14, 241 ; 
Canticles 8 : 4, 290 ; Judges 4 : 10, 292 ; 
Ezek. 43 : 11, 293 ; Matt. 22 : 12-16, 298 ; 
Luke 14 : 21-24, 2 9^ ', Luke 8 : 40, 306 ; 
2 Sam. 19 : 11, 307 ; Gen. 49 : 18, 307 ; 
Eccles. 11 : 4, 308 ; Exod. 11 : 17, 308 ; 
Dan. 9 : 18, 308 ; Isa. 63 : 17-19, 311 ; 
Psalm 80 : 18, 311. » 

Pride, spiritual, 105. 

Primitive addresses, 301. 



13° 



I AW EX OF SUBJECTS. 



Private talks, in what spirit they should 
be commenced, 27, 28. 

Privileges to be preached, 25. 

Professor, the meaning of the word, 34. 

Professors, formal, 310. 

Professors of theology and evangelism, 
140. 

Proselyting and the Salvation Army, 
44, 45- 

Proselytism, 107. 

Proselytism gone to seed, e.g., Salvation 
Army, 44, 45. 

Prostrations and seizures, 99. 

Providences, afflictive, may cause con- 
viction and fear without conversion, 
134, 135- 

Providences seemingly adverse yet favor- 
able, 14 ; examples, 14-16. 

Providence and revivals, 7. 

Psalm one hundred and nineteen written 
by Jeremiah, 133. 

Public profession, 296, 312. 

Punishment, future, to be preached, 26. 



Quotation better than argument in 
revivals, 50 ; example of a sceptic 
silenced by quotations, 50. 

IS. 

Rationalism, Prov. 21 : 30, 304. 

Rationalistic preaching noticed, 148. 

Readings and expositions, 47-5 r ; for 
what class most suitable, 47 ; examples 
of, 47, 48 ; readings on particular doc- 
trines and duties, 48 ; incidental appli- 
cations, 48, 49 ; use of such exercises in 
advancing the work, 49 ; a caution con- 
cerning them, 50, 51 ; one-sidedness to 
be avoided, 51. 

Readings, books on, 51. 

Reason, Gospel restores us to, 298. 

Reconciliation of two kinds, xi. 

Refined culture and awakenings, xii. 

Reform, Tyng, Zech. 3 : 2, 171 ; Spurgeon, 
Ezek. 16 : 54, 174 ; Ps. 94 : 16, 188 ; 
Moody, Dan. 1 : 8 and 11 : 32, 188 ; 
Luke 5 : 32, 192 ; Prov. 23 : 21, 254 ; Isa. 
28 : 17, 292 ; Isa. 66 : 8, 255 ; Zech. 2 : 3, 
282 ; Zech. 5 : 5-11, 281 ; Matt. 27 : 4, 
282 ; Mark 5 : 4, 307 ; Mark 17 : 17 ; 
Luke n : 24-26, 282. 



Reformation, tracts in aid of, 91. 

Relatives, conversion of, Esther 8 : 6, 306 ; 
Gen. 17 : 18, 307 ; John 4 : 49, lb. 

Repentance to prepare for the Gospel, 21 ; 
168, 212, 213, 234 ; a preparation for re- 
vival, Acts 3 : 19, 311 ; 2 Pet. 3 : 4, 312 
as a gift, 300. 

Reports of revivals much blessed, 13, 93. 

Resist beginnings, 100. 

Resurrection of Christ, 308. 

Resurrection to righteousness, 277. 

Retirement, devotional uses of, xx.; tes- 
timony of Cecil and Tholuck, xxi.; dis- 
crimination needed here, xxi.; necessity 
of, 133 ; example of the prophets of 
old, 133. 

Retirement and publicity, Carlyle on 
Loyola, xiii.; who should be urged to 
devote themselves to Christian work, 
xxiii. 

Revival prolonged, Spurgeon, Matt. 14 : 
16, 175 ; Payson, Luke 4 : 42, 181 ; Park- 
er, 2 Kings 4 : 6, 182 ; Neh. 6 : 3, Id.; Isa. 
51 : 11, 259 ; Micah. 2 : 7, 309 ; various 
effects of, Matt. 21 : 12-16 ; Isa. 60 : 8, 
237, 251-254, 258, 259, 273, 274 ; false, 
resemble the true, 134 ; rejected, lead 
to the moral ruin of communities, Luke 
19 : 44, 310 ; and ingatherings, 42 ; books 
on, 143, 144. 

Revivals, in former days, 1 Kings 8 : 57, 
58, 313, 288 ; at Antioch, 300 ; long con- 
tinued, in, 112. 

Righteousness, Christian, 313. 

Righteousness of Christ imputed, Matt. 
22 : 22, 296. 

S. 

Sacrifice, Jesus the only, 292 ; remedial, 
266. 

Sacrifice as a test, 307. 

Sailors, revival among, Isa. 23 : 4, 305 
moral and spiritual condition of, Id. 

Salvation Army, 44. 

Saplings set up as pillars, 108. 

Satan exalting the Spirit at the expense 
of the Son, 22 ; his method of scattering 
a church, 312. 

Science leading to Christ, 294, 295. 

Scoffers, 313. 

Seasonable preaching, 3-6. 

Second Advent, Rev. 22 : 20, 304. 

Secret societies, 22^. 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



331 



Seekers, Matt. 13 : 44-46, 307 ; encour- 
aged, Matt. 28 : 5, 273. 
Self-confidence, 106. 
Sensation, converts to a, 43. 
Servant, Onesimus as a, Philemon, verse 

ii,3i3- 

Servants, 2 Kings 5 : 3, 309 ; duty to, 306. 

Sextons and ushers, 100-103. 

Sheep fed, but lambs neglected, xii. 

Shepherd leading his flock to higher 
pastures, 143. 

Simeon, Charles, 115. 

Sin as seen in the light of the cross, 310. 

Sin-offering lies at the door, 266. 

Sincerity and love conjoined, 27, 28. 

Singing, 52-56 ; minstrelsy and prophecy, 
52 ; objection to revival songs, 52 ; old 
hymns and tunes, 53 ; many converted 
by revival hymns, 53 ; testimony of 
Nettleton and Parker, 53, 54 ; the 
quality of these hymns, 54 ; when 
singing is ill-timed, 54 ; opinion of 
Mr. Finney, 54 ; Dr. Fish's counsels, 
55 ; occasional substitutes for music and 
song, 56 ; a revival sung to death, 41. 

Slavery chosen, Exod. 14 : 12, 309. 

Small beginnings of many great revivals, 
123. 

Society and fashion adverse to revivals, 
xiii. 

Son of God murdered, Mark 12 : 6, 309. 

Soul, its value, 299. 

Spencer converted while preaching on 
Matt. 5 : 20, 313. 

Spirit, Holy, and the New Creation, 286 ; 
end of His mission, 300. 

Spirit giving life, 293. 

Spirit, ministration of, 259 ; work of, 
on intellect and will, 290. 

Spirit the primordial worker, 286. 

Spirit, the, striving of, 245 ; quenching 
the, 245 ; obtained in answer to prayer, 
256 ; fulness of the, 278, 279. 

Spiritual discernment, 112. 

Spiritualism, texts and themes on, 1 Cor. 
10 : 20, 209, 236, 284, 286 ; Lev. 20 : 27, 
259 ; 1 John 3 : 8, 307 ; Rev. 16 : 13-15 

3 J 3- 
Spring, revival lessons of, 313. 
Strangers, sermon to, 312. 
Students, sermon to, Ps. 119 : 66, 310 ; Ps. 

119 :*27, lb. 
Style, what we mean by, 29 ; qualities of, 



29, 30 ; importance of, 29 ; much de- 
pends on, 29 ; best qualities of, enumer- 
ated, 31 ; to be put in the third place, 
35 ; the oratorical to be studied, 35. 

Success does not depend wholly on the 
graces of the preacher, 128, 133, 136 ; 
more apparent than real, 18. 

Summer, revivals in, 124, 306 ; summer 
vacations in city churches, xvii., xviii. ; 
revivals in summer, where greatest, 
xviii. ; cases in New England and 
Scotland, xviii. ; exceptional cases, 
xviii. 

Sunday-schools to be reformed, 4, 5. 
T. 

Tact and address in managing mobs, 95, 
96. 

Teachers' prayer-meetings, 76 ; an en- 
couraging example, 76, 77. 

Temperament, 120. 

Temperance work, 57-61 ; variety of 
opinions, 57 ; a ground of general co-op- 
eration, 57 ; Moody's course commend- 
ed, 58 ; regeneration the only hope, 
58 ; grace is all powerful, 58 ; a brand 
plucked out of the fire, 59 ; co-operation 
with lecturers, 60 ; the true lecturer a 
pioneer, 60 ; perseverance demanded in 
some cases, 60 ; the Gospel reform the 
only true reform, 61. 

Temperance themes, 283, 284. 

Temporary retirement of the evangelist, 
124. 

Temptations that beset the evangelist, 
131-136. 

Ten-days' prayer-meetings attended with 
some danger, 129 ; they are a privilege 
rather than a duty, 130. 

Texts and themes, revival, their value, 
147 ; suggestive uses of, Burns, xxiv. 
147 ; Robert Hall and Beddome, 147. 

Texts which have been highly honored, 
21, 22. 

Theological professors, their criticisms, 

34- 

Tholuck, remarks of, 21-27. 

Timing out texts and themes, 18, 37. 

Tracts for young converts, 114 ; useful- 
ness of, 91 ; testimony of Drs. Fish and 
Murphy, 91-94. 

Truth, to preach the, is an essential req- 
uisite, 128, 129. 

Twelfth command, 300. 



33 2 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



TJ. 



Unanimity not to be expected at the out- 
set, 5, 6. 

Union, Christian, Eph. 4 : 3, 254 ; Ps. 
i33 : 1, 255. 

Union in prayer, 9 ; examples of, 10, n ; 
Judges 4 : 3, 293. 

Union in religion, 223 ; illustrated, 312. 

Unity of action and simplicity of purpose, 
1 Chron. 12 : 33, 308. 

Ushers, 100-103. 

V. 

Valley of dry bones and the scientific 
dreamer, xii. 

Vice, a pulpit, xiii. 

W. 

Wages, the reaper to receive, 141 ; evan- 
gelists as a class are not mercenary, 141. 

Waiting for Christ, 306 ; for a revival, 3. 

Warm blundering man, 120. 

Watchman, what of the night ? 267. 

Way land, no. 

Weak things of God confound the 
mighty of this world, 118. 

Welch, sermons of, 168. 

Wesley converted by a reader of Luther's 
Preface to Romans, 119 ; as a field- 
preacher, 151, 155 ; his journals, 152 ; 
his favorite texts and sermons, 152 ; 
example of his plan, 152 ; his style, 152. 

Whitefield's sermons, 159, 161 ; character 
of his preaching. Id.; his journals, 151 ; 
the sum of his wisdom concerning 
passionate preaching, 161 ; did not 
repeat verbatim, 37. 

Whittle's Bible readings, 49, 50. 

Will, freedom of, in conversion, Matt, 
n : 29, 298. 

Wisdom, morning and evening, x.; of the 
past, xxiv.; for the occasion, 97, 98 ; to 
know when a special work of grace is 
ended, 112 ; human, often confounded, 
118; versus power, Acts 27 : 15, 309. 

Women, address to, 190, 222; to erring, 



H 1 






Word of God not to be bound, 94, 

Workers and winners, 291. 

Workers, Christian, 275, 276, 286, 287 : 

Luke 5 : 16-26, 175. 
Wrath a revelation, 301. 
Wrong Thoughts of Christ, Mr., dies of 

consumption, 149. 



Yearly harvest of souls, xiii. 
I Young converts, sermons to, Wesley, 
152 ; Mark 4 : 25-28, 157 ; Col. 2 : 6, 
157 ; John 16 : 33, 157 ; Whitefield, Acts 
n : 23, 163 ; 1 Cor. 2 : 11, 165 ; Josh- 
ua 24 : 15, 166; Acts 8 : 26-39, *67 ; 
John 4 : 29, 229 ; Rev. 7 : 17, 229 ; 
Guinness, 1 Col. 1 : 18, 220 ; Evans, 
Eph. 5 : 16, 232 ; other themes for, 
Josh. 24 : 22 ; Exod. 14 : 15, 182 ; Eph. 
6:11; Matt. 10 : 22, 213 ; Josh 24 ■ ?2, 
224 ; Heb. n : 13-14. 228 ; Matt. 25 : 6, 
229 ; 1 Cor. 6 : 19, 20, 232 ; Luke 10 : 20, 
233 ; 2 Pet. 3 : 18, 246 ; Rev. 2 : 10, 
247, 250, 252, 253 ; Heb. 12 : 1, 254 ; 
Micah 7 : 19, 269, 270, 279 290, 292 ; 
Matt. 2 : 12 and 2 : 18, 295; Matt. 
12 : 12, 297 ; Jer. 3 : 4, 311. 

Young converts not to be left themselv, s, 
115 ; should be encouraged to tak^ 1 
active part at an early day, xv. ; le 
Christian armor for, Prov. 3 : 13, 70, 
187. 

Young men, 1 Chron. 28 : 9, ^51 ; iv^U. 
2 : 1-12, 29, 294. 

Young people's meetings, 115. 

Young people, texts for, Ps. 25 : 7, 224 . 
Gen. 39 : 12, 228 ; 1 Pet. 5 : 8, 302 ; 
Matt. 2 : 13, 311 ; Num. 14 : 28-31, 238, 
287. 

Youth liable to blunders, yet often suc- 
cessful, 122. 



Z. 



Zeal and resolution, 120. 

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